EFFECT OF SIZE AND TEMPERATURE ON THE OXYGEN-CONSUMPTION OF THE BROWNSHRIMP PENAEUS-CALIFORNIENSIS (HOLMES, 1900)

1. The routine rate of oxygen consumption by Peneaus californiensis wa s determined for the size groups with average weights of 0.26, 2.31 an d 10.01 g at five temperatures (19, 23, 27, 31 and 35-degrees-C). 2. O xygen consumption (mg O2/g min) was independent of dissolved oxygen (D O) level down to 1.8 mg/l, increased with temperature (P < 0.05) from 0.0015 mg O2/g min for the preadults at 19-degrees-C to 0.0106 mg O2/g min at 35-degrees-C for the postlarvae, and was inversely proportiona l to weight (P < 0.05). 3. The thermal coefficient (Q10) indicated a h igher sensitivity by preadults to temperature variations.