Endogenous Rhythm in Oxygen Consumption by the Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg)

Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg) were collected on April, 1999 and March­September, 2000 from Goseung Bay along the southern coast of Korea. The oysters tested cp;;ected from a depth of 0.5-2 m in which they cultured by a long line hanging method. The oxygen consumption rates (OCR) of oysters held under constant temperature and darkness (CC), were determined using an automatic intermittent-flow-respirometer (AIFR). Depending on holding periods after oyster collection, the experiments were divided into two groups: Group 7-d (held to ambient temperature for ca. 7 days) and Group 2l-d (held to ambient temperature for ca. 21 days). The OCR for Group 7-d single oyster displayed two peaks every day under CC, while Group 2l-d single oyster showed one peak every day. It is likely that the rhythmic patterns 02.6-12.8 hours) of the OCR in the Group 7-d single oyster may have been influenced by tidal currents at the sampling site. The rhythmic patterns (24.3-24.7 hours) in the Group 2l-d single oyster may have been shifted from two peaks to one peak each day under CC. The present study concludes that the OCR rhythm of wild oysters in nature is governed by two lunar-day clocks (24.8 hours); one driving one peak and the other driving the second peak. When oysters are subjected to the long-term CC conditions, one of the two-clock systems is depressed or only intermittently becomes active. Jpwever. the OCR rhythms by two to three oysters occurred arrhythmic patterns during the experiments and exhibited some evidence of weak rhythmicity of compared to those of a single oyster. It could be partly due to differences group effects.