The effects of varied dissolved oxygen concentrations and temperature on the wood-boring isopod genus Limnoria

Three species of the marine wood-boring genus Limnoria were subjected to low dissolved oxygen concentrations at different temperatures under laboratory conditions. 28-day median tolerance limits (TL_m) were 1.0 mg/l of dissolved oxygen at 15° to 16°C and 19° to 20°C for L. lignorum, 0.75 and 0.60 mg/l at 15° to 16°C and 22° to 25°C, respectively, for L. quadripunctata, and 1.0 and 1.18 mg/l at 15° to 16°C and 22° to 25°C, respectively, for L. tripunctata. The amount of burrowing activity, as measured by the egestion rate, was directly related to the amount of dissolved oxygen. A daily egestion rate of 0.116 mg per day in L. tripunctata at 22° to 25°C was the highest figure measured. The daily egestion rate was sharply reduced at dissolved oxygen concentrations below 3.0 mg/l.     

The effects of varying dissolved oxygen concentrations on the hemoglobin levels of the polychaetous annelid Neanthes arenaceodentata

Hemoglobin compensation in the polychaete Neanthes arenaceodentata was induced experimentally by lowered dissolved oxygen concentrations under laboratory and field conditions. Hemoglobin concentrations were measured colorimetrically and compared to the C57BL/6 strain of the house mouse. Compensation was initiated at about 4.2 mg/l dissolved oxygen, significantly increased at 3.0 mg/l, and continued to increase down to lethal levels.