2.2. Body temperature
The body temperature of the starfish (n = 10 different animals at
each time point for each temperature; 350–400 g) was recorded during
an emersion cycle in the laboratory. A scalpel blade was used to make a
small incision in the dermis, close to the base of an arm immediately before
a reading was taken; fluid loss was minimal at this time (b300 μl). A
digital temperature probe of 1.5 mm diameter (PreSens, Regensburg,
Germany) was inserted through the incision between 0.5 and 0.75 cm
into an arm so that it was in the coelomic cavity. Measurements were
made during a control period in seawater, the animals were then transferred
to incubators and held in air at either 5, 15 or 25 °C, with readings
made at 1, 2, 4 and 6 h after transfer. Following this, the animals were
transferred back into seawater and readings were made during a 6 h
recovery period.