Worm Breeder's Gazette 3(1): 24

These abstracts should not be cited in bibliographies. Material contained herein should be treated as personal communication and should be cited as such only with the consent of the author.

The Effect of Thermal Acclimation Upon Oxygen Consumption and Behavior

G.L. Anderson, D.B. Dusenbery

Thermal acclimation in Caenorhabditis ied 
by evaluating temperature effects on both respiration rate and 
chemotactic behavior.  The rate of oxygen consumption was quite 
dependent on test temperature (Q10's of two to three) but growth 
temperature had relatively little effect.  C.  elegans, therefore, 
does not exhibit partial metabolic adaptation as reported for two 
other species of free-living nematodes.  Growth temperature does 
influence the chemotactic behavior of C.  elegans.  At test 
temperatures 10 C removed from growth temperature attraction to 10 mM 
NaCl was greatly weakened.  The reduction in behavioral response does 
not appear to be related to temperature effects on basic metabolic 
rate but rather is influenced by thermal effects on more specific 
aspects of the nervous system.