DICLIDOPHORA-MERLANGI AND ENTOBDELLA-SOLEAE - EGG-PRODUCTION AND OXYGEN-CONSUMPTION AT DIFFERENT OXYGEN PARTIAL PRESSURES

The rates of respiration and of egg production of the monogenean trematodes Diclidophora merlangi and Entobdella soleae were compared at different oxygen partial pressures. In D. merlangi the respiratory rate declined sharply as the oxygen pressure in the water fell and egg production almost ceased at pO2s little below air saturation. Diclidophora lives on the gills of a pelagic fish and the likelihood that the parasite normally has air saturated water passing over it is discussed. Both respiratory rate and egg production in E. soleae were almost independent of ambient pO2. Entobdella lives on the undersurface of a flat fish, which spends part of its time buried in sandy mud. © 1979.