Summer metabolism of the Antarctic clam, Laternula elliptica (King and Broderip) in Maxwell Bay, King George Island and its implications

Abstract

Oxygen consumption of the Antarctic lamellibranch Laternula elliptica was determined in a closed system for a summer period during which food was relatively abundant. For a standard 2.6-g AFDW (equivalent to 60 mm in shell length) individual, oxygen consumption rate was 414 mu g O-2 h(-1). Weight-specific rates decreased with increase in body weight; the rate for a I-g AFDW (45 mm) individual (206 mu g O-2 g AFDW(-1) h(-1))was 1.3 times higher than the rate for a 2.6-g AFDW individual (159 mu g O-2 g AFDW(-1) h(-1)). The overall metabolic rates;of L. elliptica are well below those of temperate bivalve species and comparable to those of the Antarctic bivalve species. Reduced summer metabolism as compared with temperate bivalve species appears to be an important strategy of energy conservation of L. elliptica inhabiting Antarctic nearshore areas where food may be in short supply for up to 9 months of the year. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.