ENERGY EXPENDITURE OF SWIMMING COPEPODS

Abstract

The deceleration patterns following a leap by the calanoid copepod, Labidocera trispinosa were used to determine the parameters k and n in the proposed drag law C d = k (Re) − n where C d is the drag coefficient and Re is the Reynolds number. This relation was used to calculate the rate of energy expenditure in constant velocity swimming and in accelerating from rest to a given velocity. At the velocities and accelerations observed, assuming 100% metabolic and propulsive efficiency, the rate of energy expenditure is slightly greater than 0.1% of the basal metabolic rate. It was also shown that at the swimming speeds observed during vertical migrations, the rate of energy expenditure is slightly less than 0.3% of the basal metabolic rate.