Oxygen consumption in relation to body size in the barnacle, Balanus tintinnabulum tintinnabulum (L.)

Abstract

1. 1. The oxygen consumption and the metabolic rate of different sizes of Balanus tintinnabulum tintinnabulum was determined at a constant temperature of 25°C. 2. 2. The metabolic rate showed an exponential relationship to body size. 3. 3. Oxygen uptake increased with 0.658 power of the body weight and the weight-specific oxygen consumption or the metabolic rate with -0.342. 4. 4. A comparison of the b value of B. tintinnabulum tintinnabulum with that of B. amphitrite amphitrite showed that they are significantly different and that the b value of B. tintinnabulum tintinnabulum is nearer to two-thirds power or the surface law and that of B. amphitrite amphitrite is intermediate between two-thirds and one. 5. 5. The present study has shown that a diversity of metabolic types in relation to body size may exist even within the same genus such as Balanus.