OXYGEN CONSUMPTION AND AMINO ACID LEVELS IN HYDROBIA ULVAE (PENNANT) IN RELATION TO SALINITY AND BEHAVIOUR

1. 1. Acclimatized specimens of Hydrobia ulvae show a linear increase in oxygen consumption with decreasing salinity. The quantity of amino acid tends to decrease with decreasing salinities. 2. 2. Specimens transferred to different salinities may show a temporary increase in oxygen consumption and α-alanine concentrations. The temporary increase in oxygen consumption appears to be a standard increment. The increase in α-alanine presumably reflects quantity of pyruvate, the respiratory substrate. 3. 3. The linear relationship of oxygen consumption to salinity in acclimatized animals is related to osmoregulation. The temporary, incremental increase in oxygen consumption may be related to the cyclical behavioural activity of the prosobranch mollusc H. ulvae under estuaraine conditions. © 1968.