In recent years there has been considerable interest in the effects of locomotor activity on respiratory gas exchange and acid-base balance in the Crustacea (reviewed by Herreid, 1981; McMahon, 1981; McMahon & Wilkens, 1983). However, the partitioning of energy metabolism between aerobic and anaerobic pathways during crustacean locomotion is still poorly understood (Herreid, 1981; Full & Herreid, 1984). Booth, McMahon & Pinder (1982) recently reported that the highly active swimming crab, Callinectes sapidus, elevates oxygen uptake rate to a steady state level within 2 min after the onset of enforced swimming activity. In contrast, several terrestrial crabs studied by Herreid and co-workers (Herreid, 1981) showed sluggish aerobic responses to exercise, and did not attain steady state levels of oxygen uptake during 10-20 min of treadmill running at various speeds. The short ‘oxygen deficit’ period displayed by C. sapidus at the start...

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