The Effects of Cold Acclimation upon the Oxygen Consumption of Two Species of Free-Living Nematodes.

Two species of free-living nematodes, Panagrellus redivivus and Turbatrix aceti, were cultured axenically at control (20 C) and cold (10 C) temperatures. Oxygen consumption of worms from each population was measured manometrically on days 2 through 8 after exposure to these temperatures. In both species, the slope of the oxygen consumption curve for the controls was greater than that of the worms exposed to the cold on day 2. The slope of the curve of the cold-exposed worms gradually increased until day 7. At this time, the slope of the oxygen consumption curve from the cold-exposed worms exceeded or equaled that of the controls. This is taken as an indication of the onset of the cold-acclimated state in both species of worms by day 7.