The level of oxygen consumption of a Baltic population of Mesidothea entomon was determined in salinities of 1,6.5 and 15‰ and at temperatures of 5°C and 15°C using males, ovigerous females and non-ovigerous females. No significant dependence was found between respiration and salinity. The mean oxygen consumption is of the same order of magnitude as or Baltic marine isopods in general. lt decreases towards the autumn. The oxygen consumption remains at the same level independent of the oxygen concentration in the water until this falls below 2 mg per litre