Fig. 4. (A-C) Plots of proton elimination rates (µequiv g^-1 h^-1) versus total inorganic carbon uptake rates (µmol g^-1 h^-1) by Riftia pachyptila during exposure to three different seawater inorganic carbon regimes. Worms were maintained for several hours to establish autotrophy. Total dissolved seawater inorganic carbon concentration was then varied to produce (A) continuously increasing, (B) steady or (C) continuously decreasing environmental inorganic carbon concentrations, while proton elimination rates were measured. All other conditions were held under approximately in situ conditions (see Materials and methods). Rates are expressed in terms of wet mass.

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