Oxygen consumption and ammonia-N excretion rates of Pteria penguin

The oxygen consumption and ammonia-N excretion rates of Pteria penguin were studied in laboratory, which contribute to investigate carrying capacity for Pteria penguin aquaculture, and to study physiology of cultivating pearls and ocean ecosystem dynamics and shellfish energetics. The results showed that the oxygen consumption and ammonia-N excretion rates of Pteria penguin were negatively correlated with its body weight under the test temperature (13-33℃, and their relationships could expressed by a power function as: Y₁=a₁W^-b₁ and Y₂=a₂W^-b₂, respectively, In both equations,a, ranged from 1.330 to 4.128 4, and b₁ from 0.453 to 0.651, and similarly, a₂ ranged from 0.150 to 0.354, and b₂ from 0.446 to 0.634.Under the test temperature(13-33℃),the oxygen consumption rate ranged from 0.329 to 7.303 mg/(g·h), and the ammonia-N excretion rate ranged from 0.035 to 0.489 mg/(g·H). The oxygen consumption rate of Pteria penguin reached peak at 28℃, and began to decrease at 33℃, while the ammonia-N excretion rate continuously increased from 13 to 33℃. The respiratory and excretion Q₁₀ ranged from 0.2l0～2.494 and 1.193~2.483,respectively. And, the higher O/N was observed between 23 and 28℃. ANOVA showed that body weight, water temperature and both interaction have significant effects on the oxygen consumption and ammonia-N excretion rates of Pteria penguin (P<0.01). The routine metabolism of Pteria penguin under treatment was obvious higher than the standard metabolism,and the oxygen consumption and ammonia-N excretion rates increased by 32.1% and 76.7%, respectively.