Endothermic oxygenation of hemocyanin in the krill <i>Meganyctiphanes norvegica</i>

Abstract

The oxygen affinity of the hemolymph of the krill Meganyctiphanes norvegica , increases with temperature in the pH range 7.4 to 8.1 reflecting an endothermic overall heat of reaction. This striking feature may be of adaptive significance with respect to the feeding excursions of the animal, which at night reaches the warmer phytoplankton‐rich surface layers, where the oxygen availability is reduced due to increased temperature and photorespiration.