Abstract

A small respirometer for measuring the oxygen uptake in single eggs of the crayfish Astacus astacus L. has been developed. In a 0.38 ml chamber the oxygen uptake has been recorded for 10 and 20 minutes with an oxygen electrode as a sensor. Measurements have been made during different stages of development of the eggs and the effect of acid stress upon the oxygen uptake has been investigated. A mean oxygen uptake at 15.0°C of 0.031 µg O₂ mg dw^-lh^-1 in undeveloped eggs rose to 0.733 µg O₂ mg dw^-lh^-1 in eggs just about to hatch. Respiration rate decreased when lowering the pH from 7.0 to 3.0 with adaption times of 24 h or less. When using acclimation times of 48 h at each pH level, significant rises in the respiration rate have been recorded at pH between 4.0 and 6.0. The inhibition of the oxygen uptake due to acid stress is shown to be a reversible process under some circumstances.

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