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Oxyconformity In Burrow-Dwelling Crustaceans : Aerobic Metabolism Of Hemisquilla Ensigera Californiensis, Leandra P. Peters

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Hemisquilla ensigera califomiensis is an active burrow-dwelling stomatopod crustacean common off the coast of Southern California (Basch and Engle, 1989). In this experiment I measured the typical burrow oxygen level, time taken to deplete the oxygen in an inhabited, capped burrow, and tested the hypothesis that H. ensigera, like other burrow dwellers that have been examined, is an oxyregulator; and that like crustaceans in general, they have only limited anaerobic capabilities. Contrary to expectations, I found that H. ensigera is an oxyconformer or at best a weak oxyregulator, and that the species has substantial anaerobic capacity. Since it was …