Respiratory response of the sea anemone Bunodosoma cavernata (Bosc) to changes in temperature and salinity.

Respiratory rates for the intertidal actinian, Bunodosoma cavernata (Bosc), measured polarographically during the first two hours of exposure to various combinations of temperature and salinity were zero to 32.5 ml O2/g dry weight/h (N=162), with a mean rate of 6.59 ml O2/g/h. Anemones ranged in weight from 27.1 to 1279.5 mg, with a mean weight of 319.7 mg. The slope of a log rate vs log weight plot suggests a simple internal anatomy with respect to gas exchange as characteristic of more infaunal anemones. The respiratory rate increased with increasing experimental temperature and decreasing experimental salinity. The rate was depressed in 15 ppt and elevated in 10 C. Anemones survived chronic exposure to 0 C in each of three salinities for two weeks, showed a five day LD50 of 32 C at 15 ppt and 30 ppt, and survived two week chronic exposure to 41 C at 45 ppt. They also showed ten day LD50's at 23 C of 15 ppt and 32 ppt. Acute exposure to high temperatures for six hours yielded a seven day LD50 of 40 C in 30 ppt. Anemones survived six hour acute exposure to low temperatures down to 2 C at 30 ppt. This anemone shows temperature acclimation.