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The role of aerobic metabolism and intragel oxygen in hypoxia tolerance of three ctenophores: Pleurobrachia bachei, Bolinopsis infundibulum and Mnemiopsis leidyi
Thuesen, E.V.; Rutherford Jr., L.D.; Brommer, P.I. (2005). The role of aerobic metabolism and intragel oxygen in hypoxia tolerance of three ctenophores: Pleurobrachia bachei, Bolinopsis infundibulum and Mnemiopsis leidyi. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 85(3): 627-633. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315405011550
In: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Cambridge University Press/Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom: Cambridge. ISSN 0025-3154; e-ISSN 1469-7769, more
Peer reviewed article  
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Keywords
    Bolinopsis infundibulum (O.F. Müller, 1776) [WoRMS]; Mnemiopsis leidyi A. Agassiz, 1865 [WoRMS]; Pleurobrachia bachei A. Agassiz, in L. Agassiz, 1860 [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Authors  Top 
  • Thuesen, E.V., more
  • Rutherford Jr., L.D.
  • Brommer, P.I.
Abstract
    Ctenophores are important members of planktonic communities that are often abundant in dysaerobic environments. Previous studies have shown that ctenophores are not adversely affected by extended periods of hypoxia. The three species used in this study, Pleurobrachia bachei, Bolinopsis infundibulum, and Mnemiopsis leidyi, were all able to oxyregulate to very low partial pressures of oxygen (PO2s). These species were found to have mean critical oxygen tensions of 7.7, 10.6, and 7.2 hPa respectively. In general, ctenophores are better oxyregulators than medusae and many species of shrimps, fish and squid. Intragel oxygen was measured using a fibre optic oxygen optode. All these ctenophores have intragel subsurface [O2]s of 5–10% below that of the surrounding seawater. Intragel oxygen measurements of P. bachei showed a gradient of decreasing PO2 from surface tissues to the gut. Specimens of P. bachei over 14 mm in diameter had anaerobic guts. Survival times in anoxia ranged from 0 h for M. leidyi to up to 6 h for P. bachei. Ctenophores rely on aerobic metabolism to tolerate hypoxia.
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