The absorption efficiency and respiration rate of the Florida Lancelet, Branchiostoma floridae

The present study investigates some aspects of the digestive biology and physiological energetics of the Florida lancelet, Branchiostoma floridae. Florida lancelets are able to remove 47.2-56.9% of the energy from a diet of mixed algae. The respiration rate is 0.100 mL O2 (STPD) h− 1 g− 1 (wet), which estimates a metabolic rate of 0.248 J h− 1, at an average body mass of 0.125 g (wet). Published values of the chlorophyll a concentration in its natural habitat indicate that a 125 mg lancelet would need to filter 0.018-0.031 L h− 1 to remove sufficient food to support its resting metabolism. The filtration rate of lancelets has been reported as 0.138 L h− 1, indicating that the actual filtration rate is 4-7 times greater than the filtration rate needed to meet resting metabolic demands. It appears that lancelets have the potential to be raised in aquaculture, because their absorption efficiency and respiration rate are comparable to suspension-feeding invertebrates that have been successfully aquacultured.