OBJECTIVETo study the oxygen consumption rate and suffocation point of Whitmania pigra.

METHODUsing the method of respiratory chamber, the oxygen consumption rate, oxygen consumption volume and suffocation point were obtained.

RESULTThe oxygen consumption rate(OCR) ranged from 0.049 to 0.094 mg x g(-1) x h(-1), the oxygen consumption volume(OCV) from 0.44 to 0.67 mg x p(-1) x h(-1), and suffocation point(SP) from 0.9 to 1.51 mg x L(-1), when the average weight of W. pigra was 10 g and the water temperature varied from 15 to 35 degrees C. OCR ranged from 0.044 to 0.058 mg x g(-1) x h(-1), OCV from 0.19 to 0.77 mg x p(-1) x h(-1) and SP from 1.4 to 1.57 mg x l(-1) when water temperature was 20 degrees C.

CONCLUSIONOCR rose when the water temperature and weight increased, but SP was justly opposite. The weight was negatively correlated with OCR and positively with OCV. OCR had little difference from day to night.