title: The bioenergetic costs of specific dynamic action and ammonia excretion in a freshwater predatory leech Nephelopsis obscura.
abstract: The energy utilized by the predatory freshwater leech for specific dynamic action (SDA) and exogenous excretion, and the proportion of absorbed energy available for growth and/or activity were determined at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 degrees C. SDA and exogenous ammonia excretion increased with increases in temperature to 20 degrees C but decreased at 25 degrees C. The duration of SDA decreased from 19 hr at 5 degrees C to 11 hr at 25 degrees C, while the duration of exogenous excretion decreased from 22 hr at 5 degrees C to 11 hr at 25 degrees C. The proportion of absorbed energy utilized for SDA and exogenous excretion decreased from 5 degrees C to 15 degrees C and increased at 25 degrees C; however the energy available for growth and activity increased from 7.4 J/day at 5 degrees C to a maximum of 32.6 J/day at 15 degrees C, decreasing to 12.7 J/day at 25 degrees C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kalarani
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005618:Fresh Water; D007865:Leeches / Q000378:metabolism*; D009093:Mucus / Q000737:chemistry; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000641:Ammonia