The effect of temperature and hypoxia on the metabolic rate and specific dynamic action of feeding of the giant nemertean worm Paraborlasia corrugatus

The giant nemertean worm Paraborlasia corrugatus is an important member of the benthic community where it is both an opportunistic scavenger and an active predator. Previous work has shown the animal to have an extremely low metabolic rate, limited ability to increase this rate and that it is an extreme oxyconformer. This project examined the effect of increased temperature and hypoxia on metabolic rate and the specific dynamic action of feeding. The worms were placed in closed box respirometers and the PO2 was allowed to fall and oxygen consumptions were measured. The response of the worms to an increase in temperature was monitored. Frozen tissue was analysed for anaerobic end products.