Respiration rates of the Japanese pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata martensii, feeding on Pavlova lutheri and Chaetoceros gracilis

摘要

We examined the relationship between algal food (Chaetoceros gracilis and Pavlova lutheri) density and the respiration rate of Japanese pearl oysters, Pinctada fucata martensii. The respiration rate increased consistently with food density, independent of algal species. However, the respiration rate decreased at food densities > 10(7) mum(3) mL(-1), suggesting inactivation of the digestion system by the high-food density. Our results suggested that eutrophicated or turbid environments may be unfavourable to the growth of P. fucata martensii.