Temperature related metabolism in two intertidal snails <i>Nerita albicilla</i> and <i>Nerita chamaeleon</i> (Gastropoda/Neritaceae) of Visakhapatnam coast

Abstract

Temperature related metabolism was studied in two intertidal gastropods <i>Nerita albicilla</i> and <i>Nerita chamaeleon</i> at 15°, 20°, 25°, 30° and 35°C. As the temperature increases there was an increase in the oxygen consumption in both the species. There was a fall in oxygen consumption at 35°C in the upper range and at 15°C at the lower range. The Q₁₀ values (5°C and 10°C interval) were higher for lower range of temperatures and decreased with increasing temperature for both <i>Nerita albicilla</i> and <i>Nerita chamaeleon</i>. The effect of temperature on size related metabolism was also investigated. The regression values(b) at different temperatures were not significantly different (F₅,45=2.43) (p<0.05) for both the species. The Q₁₀ values varied with size for <i>Nerita albicilla</i> and <i>Nerita chamaeleon</i> at different temperature ranges. These studies indicate that both temperature and size have a profound effect on respiration of both the species.