Temperature acclimation influences temperature-related behaviour as well as oxygen-transport physiology and biochemistry in the water fleaDaphnia magna

Abstract

To evaluate the role of temperature in oxygen transport in the water flea Daphnia magna, temperature-related behaviour as well as oxygen-transport physiology and biochemistry were investigated in animals long-term acclimated to moderate temperatures: 10, 20, or 30°C (normoxia) or 20°C (hypoxia). Study of the behaviour of animal groups within a normoxic thermal gradient showed their preferred temperatures and distribution patterns to be connected with acclimation conditions; for example, cold-acclimated individuals, with their relatively high metabolic rates and low oxygen-transport capacities, crowded at low temperatures where the oxygen concentration was high. One key to explaining these data is to assume a strategy of avoiding oxygen shortage. Both temperature and hypoxia acclimation also modified oxygen-transport variables such as oxygen consumption, ventilation and circulation rates, or the concentration and oxygen affinity of haemoglobin. Characteristic features of cold-acclimated D. magna were relatively high oxygen-consumption and heart rates and a low concentration and oxygen affinity of haemoglobin. Hypoxia-acclimated D. magna showed relatively low convective rates (frequency of thoracic-limb movements, heart rate) but a high concentration and oxygen affinity of haemoglobin. Additional experiments showed that independently of each other, temperature and ambient oxygen concentration modify haemoglobin quantity and quality, the former possibly acting via a temperature-induced hypoxia. The varying oxygen affinity is probably due to alterations of haemoglobin subunit composition, with the particular participation of subunits A, E, and G as revealed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.