Oxygen consumption of adult females of Tenagomysis spp. (Crustacea: Mysida) in relation to body size and salinity

• Published in: New Zealand journal of marine and freshwater research Vol. 49; no. 3; pp. 390 - 397
• Main Authors: Paul, S, Probert, PK, Closs, GP
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 03.07.2015; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: adults; body size; Crustacea; estuaries; females; Mysida; New Zealand; oxygen consumption; salinity; Tenagomysis chiltoni; Tenagomysis novaezealandiae; New Zealand; PSE, New Zealand
• ISSN: 1175-8805; 0028-8330; 1175-8805
• DOI: 10.1080/00288330.2015.1027712

Mysids Tenagomysis chiltoni and T. novaezealandiae are abundant in southern New Zealand estuaries. Size-specific oxygen consumption rates of adult females of T. chiltoni and T. novaezealandiae were measured under salinities 0–1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 33–34 at 5 °C and 20 °C in relation to body size. We predicted that, irrespective of salinity variations, the larger individuals would show lower size-specific oxygen consumption rates than smaller ones. Body size and the changes in salinity were not significantly related to the size-specific oxygen consumption rates of T. chiltoni and T. novaezealandiae , probably because of the small size range of individuals measured. At 20 °C, size-specific oxygen consumption rates were significantly higher than those at 5 °C for T. novaezealandiae , but not for T. chiltoni . Within the tolerable range of salinity variation, small differences in body size are possibly not important for energetics of adult Tenagomysis spp.