Measurement of Diporeia respiration rate for Lake Superior
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-2014
Department
Department of Biological Sciences; Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
Abstract
The freshwater amphipod Diporeia is a dominant macroinvertebrate species in Lake Superior's benthic community and an important prey item for many fish. A capacity to predict growth and production rates of Diporeia using a bioenergetics model requires information on physiological processes of the species. The objective of this study is to quantify oxygen consumption of Lake Superior Diporeia and to determine if respiration rate changes with body length. Diporeia were collected from Lake Superior and kept over natural sediment maintained at 4°C. Dissolved oxygen levels for groups of immature (2mm), juvenile (4mm), and adult (6mm) Diporeia in 20ml microcosms were measured using a polarographic microelectrode. Mass-specific respiration rates for Lake Superior Diporeia ranged from 32.0 to 44.7 mg O2 g DW-1 day-1. A significant relationship between body length and mass-specific respiration rate (p> 0.1) was not found. The estimate of Diporeia respiration presented here is significantly higher (p < 0.05) than previous findings from populations in Lakes Michigan and Ontario. This study provides new data on respiration rates of Lake Superior Diporeia and compares findings to studies for other connecting Great Lakes.
Publication Title
Journal of Great Lakes Research
Recommended Citation
Auer, N. A.,
Corcoran, M.,
&
Auer, M.
(2014).
Measurement of Diporeia respiration rate for Lake Superior.
Journal of Great Lakes Research,
40(4), 1033-1036.
http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2014.09.004
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/6706
