Weight-specific oxygen consumption (90,) varied with body weight (W) in four crustacean species investigated under comparable experimental conditions. The value of the exponent b-l relating VO, to body weight was significantly different (P < 0.01) in the burrowing crustaceans Corystes cassjvelaunus and Nephrops norvegicus, compared to the nonburrowing anomurans. Galathea strigosa and Pagurus bernhardus. A mathematical transformation was used to provide a n index (K,/K,) of oxygen independence.

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... sing this index it was found that oxygen independence was influenced by intrinsic factors (size and level of activity) and environmental factors (temperature and presence of substrate). Present address: Abteilung Physiologie, Max-Planck-Institut fiir Experimentelle Medizin, Hermann-Rein-StraOe 3.