Inter-Research
Marine Ecology Progress Series

ABSTRACT: Larvae of the Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus were reared in the laboratory during zoeal development (Stages I to V, ~15 d at 25°C and 30[per thou] S). Measurements of respiration rates, lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH) and total protein content were made daily on individual larvae (n = 181) in order to assess the level of individual variance in energy metabolism during development. On average, zoeal development in H. sanguineus was estimated to require 43.8 J of metabolic energy to reach a megalope stage; however, the level of individual variance in metabolic rates resulted in a range of 23.8 to 67.9 J (~3-fold difference). LDH specific activities also evidenced a wide range in individual values during development (12 to 785 µU µg^-1 protein). Although respiration rates were correlated with LDH specific activity (r² = 0.628), it is more interesting to note the negative correlation between the variance in these measurements (r² = 0.796), indicating a substantial degree of individual differences in metabolic activities among these larvae. At present, phenotypic variations in physiological rate processes are not considered in life-history models of larval development, which could be an important variable determining the survival and dispersal of a larval cohort.

KEY WORDS: Larvae · Physiology · Life history · Hemigrapsus sanguineus · Lactate dehydrogenase · Respiration

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Published in MEPS Vol. 218 (2001) on August 20
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599. Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2001