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Physiological adaptation of Mytilus edulis to cyclic temperatures
Widdows, J. (1976). Physiological adaptation of Mytilus edulis to cyclic temperatures. J. Comp. Physiol. (B Biochem. Syst. Environ. Physiol.) 105(2): 115-128. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00691115
In: Journal of comparative physiology. Part B. Biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology. Springer: Heidelberg; Berlin. ISSN 0174-1578; e-ISSN 1432-136X, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Behaviour > Feeding behaviour
    Biology > Physiology
    Diurnal rhythms
    Environmental effects > Temperature effects
    Metabolism
    Oxygen consumption
    Population functions > Growth
    Mytilus edulis Linnaeus, 1758 [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal

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Abstract
    M. edulis adapted to cyclic temps by reducing the amplitude of response of O2) consumption and filtration rate over a period of approx 2 wks, and thereby increasing their independence fo temp within the range of the fluctuating regime. When acclimated to cyclic temp regimes within the range from 6 to 20°C, the metabolic and feeding rates, measured at different temps in the cycle, were not significantly different from the adapted response to equivalent constant temps. Physiological adaptation of M. edulis to different thermal environments were reflected in their metabolic and feeding rate-temp curves. Animals subjected to marked diel fluctuations in environmental temp showed an appropriate region of temp-independence, whereas animals from a population not experiencing large diel temp fluctuations showed no region of temp- independence. In a fluctuating thermal environment which extended above the normal environmental maxima, respiratory adaptation occurred at higher temps than was possible in a constant thermal environment. The feeding rate was also maintained at higher temps in a cyclic regime than was possible under constant thermal conditions. This represented a short-term extension of the zone of activity in a fluctuating thermal environment. The net result of these physiological responses to high cyclic and constant temps has been assessed in terms of 'scope for growth'. Animals acclimated to cyclic temps between 21 and 29°C had a higher scope for growth at 29°C and were less severely stressed than those maintained at the constant temp of 29°C.

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