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Journal of Experimental Biology 61,309-320 (1974)
Published by Company of Biologists 1974

Eco-Physiological Studies of An Intertidal Crustacean, Pollicipes Polymerus (Cirripedia, Lepadomorpha): Aquatic and Aerial Respiration

J. A. PETERSEN ¹, H. J. FYHN ², and K. JOHANSEN ³

¹ Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, Friday Harbor, Washington 98250, U.S.A., and Department of Zoophysiology, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; Dep. de Fisiologia Animal, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 11207, 01000 São Paulo, S.P. Brazil
² Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, Friday Harbor, Washington 98250, U.S.A., and Department of Zoophysiology, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; Institute of Zoophysiology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
³ Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, Friday Harbor, Washington 98250, U.S.A., and Department of Zoophysiology, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; Department of Zoophysiology, University of Aarhus, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

1. Gas exchange in water and in air of the intertidal cirriped Pollicipes polymerus has been studied by combined field and laboratory experiments.

2. Haemolymph gas tensions and pH are correlated with the tidal cycle in the field. Air exposure is accompanied by increasing oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions, and by decreasing haemolymph pH. During resubmersion the respiratory parameters are restored to values typical of the submerged state. There is no accumulation of lactic acid during air exposure.

3. The oxygen uptake of Pollicipes is higher for air exposed than for submerged animals at each tested temperature. In air exposed animals the oxygen uptake shows a decreasing Q₁₀ with increasing temperature between 2 and 27 °C. Pollicipes exhibits oxygen conformity under varying ambient oxygen tensions and no oxygen debt is found after exposure to hypoxic water.

4. The peduncle cuticle is permeable to oxygen and cutaneous respiration at this level may contribute significantly to the overall oxygen uptake.

5. Pollicipes is well adapted to respiratory gas exchange both in water and in air making it a successful species in the intertidal community.