Oxygen uptake in an Antarctic collembole Cryptopygus antarcticus

The relationship between length and weight was investigated for the Antarctic springtail, Cryptopygus antarcticus Willem. The range of individuals from juvenile to adult was divided arbitrarily into five size classes, whose lengths ranged from 440-1,990 μm, and live weights from 2.2-119.5 μg. Measurements of oxygen consumption of individuals were made using a Cartesian Diver micro-respirometer at +2°, +6° and +10°C, and mean rates were calculated for each size class at each experimental temperature. These varied from 10.52-75.91 μ l× 10-4/individual and hr at +2°C, 41.40-78.04 at +6°C, and 120.81-136.60 at +10°C. These respiration data are discussed in relation to live weight and temperature, and to other work on temperate and Antarctic collembola