Journal of Zoology

Volume 209, Issue 4 p. 595-606

Scaling of the respiratory, cardio-vascular and skeletal muscle systems of the freshwater/terrestrial mountain crab, Pseudothelphusa garmani garmani

A. J. Innes1,

A. J. Innes1

Department of Zoology, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad

Search for more papers by this author

Alicia J. El Haj2,

Alicia J. El Haj2

Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Search for more papers by this author

Judith F. Gobin3,

Judith F. Gobin3

Institute of Marine Affairs, Chaguaramas, Trinidad

Search for more papers by this author

A. J. Innes1,

A. J. Innes1

Department of Zoology, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad

Search for more papers by this author

Alicia J. El Haj2,

Alicia J. El Haj2

Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Search for more papers by this author

Judith F. Gobin3,

Judith F. Gobin3

Institute of Marine Affairs, Chaguaramas, Trinidad

Search for more papers by this author

First published: August 1986

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1986.tb03614.x

Citations: 8

**Department of Anatomy, The Royal Veterinary College, London

*Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

About

PDF

Tools

Share a link

Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Wechat

Abstract

The freshwater/terrestrial mountain crab Pseudothelphusa garmani garmani (Rathbun, 1898) is structurally well adapted for aerial gas exchange. Pseudothelphusa possesses complex lungs and gills within the branchial chambers.

The present investigation sets out primarily to compare how the respiratory system (whole animal oxygen uptake, gills, lungs), cardio-vascular system (heart, blood volume) and skeletal muscle system (muscles of third walking leg merus) scale as a function of live weight (i.e. Y = aX^b; here Y= variables listed above, X= live weight, a= constant, b= scaling exponent).

Whole animal aerial oxygen uptake scales to the power 0·70. In contrast, the weight of the gas exchange organs (gills and lungs) scale to the power 0·87 and 0·88, respectively, whilst heart weight and blood volume scale to 1·01 and 0·85, respectively. Skeletal muscle (weight of muscles from third walking leg merus), however, has a scaling exponent of 0·72 which resembles that of whole animal oxygen uptake.

Scaling exponents for skeletal length as a function of live weight are significantly lower than those listed above, i.e. length of third walking leg merus (b= 0·32); carapace width (b= 0·34).

‘Excitement’ due to handling stress induces an average increase in aerial oxygen uptake of ×2·08. Aerobic expansibilities of ×3·65 ×5·30 are reported for Pseudothelphusa during locomotor activity. A discontinuous pattern of ventilation was recorded during air breathing in quiescent animals.

Heart wet weight expressed as a percentage of live body weight is 0·135% for a mean 71·5 g live weight crab.

In conclusion, the oxygen uptake of inactive Pseudothelphusa appears to be limited at the tissue level rather than at the gas exchange surface or cardio-vascular system.

References

Aldrich, J. C. & McMullan, P. M. (1979). Observations on non-locomotory manifestations of biological rhythms and excitement in the oxygen consumption rates of crabs. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. (A) 62: 707–709.
10.1016/0300-9629(79)90128-2
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Ansell, A. D. (1973). Changes in oxygen consumption, heart rate and ventilation accompanying starvation in the decapod crustacean, Cancer pagurus. Neth. J. Sea Res. 7: 455–475.
10.1016/0077-7579(73)90066-5
Google Scholar
Bliss, D. E. (1979). From sea to tree; saga of a land crab. Am. Zool. 19: 385–410.
10.1093/icb/19.2.385
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Bott, R. (1969). Die Süsswasserkrabben Süd-Americas und ihre Stammesgeschichte. Eine Revision der Trichodactylidaeund der Pseudothelphusidae östlich der Anden (Crustacea, Decapoda). Abh. senckenb. naturforsch. Ges. 518: 1–94.

Google Scholar
Bott, R. (1970). Die Süsswasserkrabben von Europea, Asien, Australien, und ihre Stammesgeschichte. Eine Revision der Potamoidea und der Parathelphusoidea (Crustacea, Decapoda). Abh. Senckenberg. naturforsch. Ges. No. 526: 1–338.

Google Scholar
Burnett, L. E. & Bridges, C. R. (1981). The physiological properties and function of ventilatory pauses in the crab Cancer paguras. J. comp. Physiol. 145: 81–88.
10.1007/BF00782597
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Cameron, J. N. (1981). Brief introduction to the land crabs of the Palau Islands: stages in the transition to air breathing. J. exp. Zool. 218: 1–5.
10.1002/jez.1402180102
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Davies, P. S. (1966). A constant pressure respirometer for medium-sized animals. Oikos 17: 108–112.
10.2307/3564785
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Diaz, H. & Rodriguez, G. (1977). The branchial chamber in terrestrial crabs: A comparative study. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab. Woods Hole 153: 485–504.
10.2307/1540602
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Gehr, P., Mwangi, D. K., Ammann, A., Maloiy, G. M. O., Taylor, C. R. & Weibel, E. R. (1981). Design of the mammalian respiratory system. 5. Scaling morphometric pulmonary diffusing capacity to body mass: Wild and domestic animals. Respir. Physiol. 44: 61–86.
10.1016/0034-5687(81)90077-3
PubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar
Gray, I. E. (1957). A comparative study of the gill area of crabs. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab. Woods Hole 112: 34–42.
10.2307/1538877
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Greenaway, P. & Taylor, H. H. (1976). Aerial gas exchange in Australian arid-zone crab, Parathelphusa transversa Von Martens. Nature, Lond. 262: 711–713.
10.1038/262711a0
CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar
Greenaway, P., Taylor, H. H. & Bonaventura, J. (1983). Aerial gas exchange in Australian freshwater/land crabs of thegenus Holthuisana. J. exp. Biol. 103: 237–251.

Web of Science®Google Scholar
Hawkins, A. J. S. & Jones, M. B. (1982). Gill area and ventilation in two mud crabs, Helice crassa Dana (Grapsidae) and Macrophthalmus hirtipes (Jacquinot) (Ocypodidae), in relation to habitat. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 60: 103–118.
10.1016/0022-0981(82)90153-8
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Hawkins, A. J. S., Jones, M. B. & Marsden, I. D. (1982). Aerial and aquatic respiration in two mud crabs, Helice crassa Dana (Grapsidae) and Macrophthalmus hirtipes (Jacquinot) (Ocypodidae), in relation to habitat. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. (A) 73: 341–347.
10.1016/0300-9629(82)90165-7
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Hemmingsen, A. M. (1950). The relation of standard (basal) energy metabolism to total fresh weight of living organisms. Rep. Steno meml Hosp. 4: 7–58.

Google Scholar
Hemmingsen, A. M. (1960). Energy metabolism as related to body size and respiratory surfaces and its evolution. Rep. Steno meml Hosp. 9: 7–110.

CASGoogle Scholar
Herreid, C. F., II (1981). Energetics of pedestrian arthropods. In Locomotion and energetics in arthropods: 491–526. C. F. Herreid & C. R. Fourtner (Eds). New York : Plenum Press.
10.1007/978-1-4684-4064-5
Google Scholar
Heusner, A. A. (1982). Energy metabolism and body size. 1. Is the 0·75 mass exponent of Kleiber's equation a statistical artefact Respir. Physiol 48: 1–12.
10.1016/0034-5687(82)90046-9
CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar
Holthuis, L. B. (1959). The Crustacea Decapoda of Suriname (Dutch Guiana). Zool. Verh. Leiden No. 44: 1–296.

Google Scholar
Houlihan, D. F. & Innes, A. J. (1982). Oxygen consumption, crawling speeds, and cost of transport in four Mediterranean intertidal gastropods. J. comp. Physiol. 147: 113–121.
10.1007/BF00689299
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Houlihan, D. F. & Innes, A. J. (1984). The cost of walking in crabs: aerial and aquatic oxygen consumption during activity of two species of intertidal crab. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. (A) 77: 325–334.
10.1016/0300-9629(84)90069-0
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Houlihan, D. F., Laurent, P., El Haj, A. J. & Mathers, E. (In press). The scaling of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism in the muscles of Crustacea. J. Physiol., Paris..

Google Scholar
Houlihan, D. F., Mathers, E. & El Haj, A. J. (1984). Walking performance and aerobic and anaerobic metabolism of Carcinus maenas (L.) in sea water at 15°C. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 74: 211–230.
10.1016/0022-0981(84)90126-6
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Hughes, G. M. (1982). An introduction to the study of gills. In Gills: 1–24. D. F. Houlihan, J. C. Rankin & T. J. Shuttleworth (Eds). Cambridge : Cambridge University Press.

Google Scholar
Hulbert, A. J. & Else, P. L. (1983). Oxygen demand of organ systems. Proc. Physiol. Soc. N.Z. 3: 95–101.

Google Scholar
Innes, A. J. (1985). Aerobic scope for activity of the burrowing mantis shrimp Heterosquilla tricarinata at low environmental oxygen tensions. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. (A) 81: 827–832.
10.1016/0300-9629(85)90914-4
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Innes, A. J. (In press). Air breathing crabs of Trinidad and Tobago: Identification parade. Trin. Nat..

Google Scholar
Jokumsen, A. & Fyhn, H. J. (1982). The influence of aerial exposure upon respiratory and osmotic properties of haemolymph from two intertidal mussels, Mytilus edulis L. and Modiolus modiolus. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 61: 189–203.
10.1016/0022-0981(82)90008-9
CASWeb of Science®Google Scholar
Jurgens, K. D., Bartels, H. & Bartels, R. (1981). Blood oxygen transport and organ weights of small bats and small non-flying mammals. Respir. Physiol. 45: 243–260.
10.1016/0034-5687(81)90009-8
CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar
Lasiewski, R. C. & Calder, W. A., Jr (1971). A preliminary allometric analysis of respiratory variables in resting birds. Respir. Physiol. 11: 152–166.
10.1016/0034-5687(71)90020-X
CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar
Lutz, P. L. (1969). Salt and water balance in the West African freshwater/land crab Sudanautes africanus africanus and the effects of desiccation. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. (A) 30: 469–480.
10.1016/0010-406X(69)92016-7
CASWeb of Science®Google Scholar
Mathieu, O., Krauer, R., Hoppeler, H., Oehr, P., Lindstedt, S. L., Alexander, R. McN., Taylor, C. R. & Weibel, E. R. (1981). Design of the mammalian respiratory system. 7. Scaling mitochondrial volume in skeletal muscle to body mass. Respir. Physiol. 44: 113–128.
10.1016/0034-5687(81)90079-7
CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar
McMahon, B. R. (1981). Oxygen uptake and acid-base balance during activity in decapod crustaceans. In Locomotion and energetics in arthropods: 299–335. C. F. Herreid & C. R. Fourtner (Eds). New York : Plenum Press.

Google Scholar
Phillipson, J. (1981). Bioenergetic options and phylogeny. In Physiological ecology: an evolutionary approach to resource use: 20–45. C. R. Townsend & P. Calow (Eds). London : Blackwell Scientific Publications.

Google Scholar
Prothero, J. (1979). Heart weight as a function of body weight in mammals. Growth 43: 139–150.

PubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar
Rodriguez, G. (1966). The fresh-water crabs of the genus Pseudothelphusa from northern Venezuela and Trinidad (Brachyura, Potamonidae). Zoöl. Meded., Leiden 41: 111–135.

PubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar
Schmidt-Nielsen, K. (1983). Animal physiology: adaptation and environment. 3rd edn. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press.

Web of Science®Google Scholar
Schneiderman, H. A. (1960). Discontinuous respiration in insects; role of the spiracles. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab. Woods Hole 119: 494–528.
10.2307/1539265
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Snedecor, G. W. & Cochran, W. G. (1972). Statistical methods. Iowa : Iowa State University Press.

Google Scholar
Stahl, W. R. (1965). Organ weights in primates and other mammals. Science, Wash. 150: 1039–1042.
10.1126/science.150.3699.1039
CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar
Stonley, J. M. (1971). A monograph of the crabs of Trinidad MSc thesis, University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, Trinidad.

Google Scholar
Taylor, C. R. (1982). Scaling limits of metabolism to body size: implications for animal design. In A companion to animal physiology: 161–170. C. R. Taylor, K. Johansen & L. Bolis (Eds). Cambridge : Cambridge University Press.

Google Scholar
Taylor, C. R. (1983). Oxygen demand during exercise: what limits aerobic metabolism Proc. Physiol. Soc. N.Z 3: 102–107.

Google Scholar
Taylor, C. R., Schmidt-Nielsen, K. & Raab, J. L. (1970). Scaling of the energetic cost of running to body size in mammals. Am. J. Physiol. 219: 1104–1107.
10.1152/ajplegacy.1970.219.4.1104
CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar
Taylor, C. R. & Weibel, E. R. (1981). Design of the mammalian respiratory system. 1. Problem and strategy. Respir. Physiol. 44: 1–10.

CASPubMedGoogle Scholar
Taylor, E. W. & Butler, P. J. (1978). Aquatic and aerial respiration in the shore crab, Carcinus maenas (L.) acclimated to 15°C. J. comp. Physiol. 127: 315–323.
10.1007/BF00738415
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Taylor, H. H., Forster, M. E., Jones, M. B., Innes, A. J. & Marsden, I. D. (1984). Aquatic and aerial respiration in a high shore crab, Cyclograpsus lavauxi. Proc. Physiol. Soc. N.Z. 4: 15.

Google Scholar
Taylor, H. H. & Greenaway, P. (1979). The structure of the gills and lungs of the arid-zone crab, Holthuisana (Austrothelphusa) transversa (Brachyura: Sundathelphusidae) including observations on arterial vessels within the gills. J. Zool., Lond. 189: 359–384.
10.1111/j.1469-7998.1979.tb03969.x
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Taylor, H. H. & Greenaway, P. (1984). The role of the gills and branchiostegites in gas exchange in a bimodally breathing crab, Holthuisana transversa: evidence for a facultative change in the distribution of the respiratory circulation. J. exp. Biol. 111: 103–121.

Web of Science®Google Scholar
Weibel, E. R. (1972). Morphometric estimation of pulmonary diffusion capacity. V. Comparative morphometry of alveolar lungs. Respir. Physiol. 14: 26–43.
10.1016/0034-5687(72)90015-1
CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar
Weibel, E. R. (1973). Morphological basis of alveolar-capillary gas exchange. Physiol. Rev. 53: 419–495.
10.1152/physrev.1973.53.2.419
CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar
Weibel, E. R. (1982). The pathway for oxygen: lung to mitochondria. In A companion to animal physiology: 31–48. C. R. Taylor, K. Johansen & L. Bolis (Eds). Cambridge : Cambridge University Press.

Google Scholar
Wood, C. M. & Randall, D. J. (1981). Oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange during exercise in the land crab (Cardisoma carnifex). J. exp. Zool. 218: 7–22.
10.1002/jez.1402180103
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Zeuthen, E. (1953). Oxygen uptake as related to body size in organisms. Q. Rev. Biol. 28: 1–12.
10.1086/399308
CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar
Zeuthen, E. (1970). Rate of living as related to body size in organisms. Pol. Archwm Hydrobiol. 17: 21–30.

Google Scholar

Citing Literature

Volume209, Issue4

August 1986

Pages 595-606

Scaling of the respiratory, cardio-vascular and skeletal muscle systems of the freshwater/terrestrial mountain crab, Pseudothelphusa garmani garmani

Abstract

References

Citing Literature

References

Information

About Wiley Online Library

Help & Support

Opportunities

Connect with Wiley

Scaling of the respiratory, cardio-vascular and skeletal muscle systems of the freshwater/terrestrial mountain crab, Pseudothelphusa garmani garmani

Abstract

References

Citing Literature

References

Related

Information