This study was designed to measure responses of four-year-old black-lip pearl oysters (Pinctada margaritifera) to different temperatures and food concentrations and to identify the energy requirements of each sex. Oysters were fed a monospecific microalgal diet of Isochrysis affinis galbana (T-iso). Measurements of oxygen consumption and ingestion rates were carried out at 24 degrees C and 27 degrees C and at two algal (T-iso) concentrations: 5000 and 30 000 cell ml(-1). Glycogen content in adductor muscle, absorption efficiency and scope for growth were also estimated. Females and males responded differently to environmental factors, with food level being the most influential parameter. Oxygen consumption and absorption efficiency were significantly higher in females than in males, but males had significantly higher glycogen content than females. At high food concentration, glycogen content, ingestion rate, oxygen consumption, and scope for growth were significantly higher than at the low food concentration. Only absorption efficiency was significantly higher at the low food concentration. Oxygen consumption was significantly higher at 27 degrees C than at 24 degrees C. These results indicate that females and males have different bioenergetic functioning and that energy demands for reproduction are higher in females.