Effects of salinity fluctuation on the hemolymph composition of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus

The hemolymph of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus was hyperosmotic during 20-10-20 S and 30-10-30 S diurnal cycles. The hemolymph became isosmotic at 26 S and hyposmotic at 28 S in the 10-30-10 S diurnal cycle. Hemolymph Na⁺ was hyperionic to seawater throughout all cycles. Hemolymph Cl^- was hyperionic below 24 S and either isionic or hypoionic from 24 to 30 S. Hemolymph K⁺ concentrations were hyperionic below 26 S and either isionic or hypoionic from 26 to 30 S. Hemolymph Mg⁺⁺ values were hypoionic over the experimental salinity range (10 to 30). Hemolymph ninhydrin-positive substances (NPS) levels were directly related to ambient salinity.     

Effects of salinity fluctuations on the respiration rate of the southern oyster drill Thais haemastoma and the blue crab Callinectes sapidus

Respiration rates of Thais haemastoma and Callinectes sapidus were determined as a function of salinity with a flow-through respirometer at 20°C. Respiration rates were measured at 10, 20 and 30 S for acclimated animals. The effects of 10-5-10, 20-10-20, 30-10-30 and 10-30-10 S semidiurnal cycles (12 h) of fluctuating salinity on the rate of respiration of the oyster drill were studied. During each cycle, salinity was changed from the acclimation salinity over a 4 h interval, held at that salinity for 2 h, returned to the acclimation salinity over 4 h and held at that salinity for 2 h. The effects of diurnal (24.8 h) salinity cycles on respiration in the oyster drill and blue crab were also studied. Salinity was changed from the acclimation salinity over a 10.4 h interval, held at that salinity for 2 h, then returned to the acclimation salinity over 10.4 h and held at that salinity for 2 h. The respiration rate of 30 S acclimated oyster drills (679 l O₂ g dry weight^–1 h^–1) was significantly higher than for individuals acclimated to 10 S (534 l O₂ g dry weight^–1 h^–1). Blue crab respiration was 170 l O₂ g dry weight^–1 h^–1 at 30 S, and was significantly higher at 10 and 20 S than at 30 S. With the exception of the 20-10-20 S semidiurnal cycle, the respiration rate of oyster drills declined as salinity fluctuated in either direction from the acclimation salinity and increased as ambient salinity returned to the acclimation salinity. Semidiurnal cycles (12 h) of fluctuating salinity produced greater changes in the respiration rate of snails than analogous diurnal cycles (24.8 h). A 10-30-10 S pattern of fluctuation caused a greater percentage reduction in the steady state respiration rate of oyster drills than the 30-10-30 S pattern. The respiration rate of blue crabs varied inversely with fluctuating salinity. Relatively minor changes occurred in blue crab respiration rate with fluctuating salinity. Blue crab respiration rate characteristically dropped during the initial phase of declining salinity at a rate directly proportional to the rate of salinity decrease, perhaps representing a metabolic adjustment period by the blue crabs. The respiratory response of T. haemastoma to salinity is consistent with its incomplete volume regulation, while the response of C. sapidus is compatible with its ability to regulate extracellular fluid osmotic and ionic composition.     

Effects of salinity gradients on the tolerance and bioenergetics of juvenile blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) from waters of different environmental salinities

Juvenile Callinectes sapidus Rathbun were collected from brackish and hypersaline coastal environments in August 1986 and July 1987, respectively. The brackish collection site was a salt-marsh near Grand Isle, Louisiana (USA), and the hypersaline site was in the barrier island system on the north end of the Laguna Madre near Corpus Christi, Texas (USA). On the dates of collection, salinities fluctuated daily between 20 and 30 S and between 30 and 45 S at the brackish and hypersaline collection sites, respectively. The high-salinity 21 d LC₅₀ (50% mortality) was 56.0 for brackish-water individuals and 66.5 S for hypersaline individuals. The brackish-water individuals survived 0 S. The lowsalinity 21 d LC₅₀ was 0.5 S for the hypersaline individuals. Respiration and excretion comprised a small portion of the energy budget and did not vary with salinity for individuals from brackish water. However, both respiration and excretion increased with decreasing salinity in individuals from the hypersaline environment. Respiration accounted for more energy than excretion. As energetic expenditure (due to respiration and excretion) was relatively small, scope for growth usually paralleled energy absorption. Scope for growth responses to salinity differed significantly between crabs from the two environments. Peaks in scope for growth for both the brackish-water and hypersaline individuals corresponded to salinities normally encountered by these crabs in their natural habitats. Individuals from the brackish-water population had maximal energy absorption and scope for growth at 10 and 25 S. Individuals from the hypersaline population displayed maximal energy absorption at 35 S and maximal scope for growth at 35 and 50 S.     

Responses of Leptasterias hexactis (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) to low salinity

The six-rayed starfish Leptasterias hexactis (Stimpson, 1862) is seasonally exposed to low salinities in southeastern Alaska. Individuals that were gradually exposed to reduced salinities in the laboratory had a 28-d TLm of 12.9 S. The activity of L. hexactis, as measured by its activity coefficient, varied directly with salinity. Individual feeding rates of the starfish on similarly exposed Mytilus edulis, measured daily for 21 d at salinities of 30, 20 and 15 S, also varied directly with salinity. The dry weight of mussel tissue consumed was 8.84, 8.49 and 0.58 mg ·starfish^-1·d^-1 at 20, 20 and 15 S. Expressed as percent of dry starfish weight, the daily feeding rate was 1.35, 0.76 and 0.10% at 30, 20 and 15 S. Absorption efficiency decreased from 64% at 30 S to 49% at 20 S, further reducing the energy available for metabolism. Growth, measured in terms of changes in total dry weight or dry weight of soft tissues, also varied directly with salinity. Although exposure to hyposmotic conditions did induce stress responses, as indicated by reductions in activity, feeding, absorption efficiency and growth rates, L. hexactis maintained positive growth for at least a 3-wk period in the laboratory at 20 S and 13°CC. The population of L. hexactis investigated must be considered euryhaline and brief periods of exposure to hyposmotic conditions should not limit its distribution.     

Stepwise acclimation—a method for estimating the potential euryhalinity of the gastropod Hydrobia ulvae

The White Sea gastropod Hydrobia ulvae (Pennant) was exposed to step-wise lowering or increase of the habitat salinity. The time allowed for acclimatization to the successive salinity levels was sufficient to complete non-genetic adaptation. In this way, the lower and upper salinity limits were extended. The tolerance limits obtained are assumed to be indicative of the capacity for non-genetic adaptation and to serve as a genotypical characteristic. The tolerance of specimens colleced from in situ conditions (mid littoral, 20 S) ranged between 14 and 34 S. After non-genetic adaptation, the lower tolerance value shifted to 6 S (adaptation limit), and the upper value to 76 S (final limit not reached). There is no reason for considering White Sea H. ulvae to represent a special physiological race of specimens from those on the coast of Great Britain.     

Salinity tolerance,salinity preference and temperature tolerance in the high-shore harpacticoid copepod Tigriopus brevicornis

Tigriopus brevicornis (O. F. Müller) were collected in 1992 from rock pools close to U.M.B.S. Millport, Isle of Cumbrae, U.K. and acclimated to various combinations of salinity and temperature for at least 1 wk prior to laboratory experiments. Higher salinities of acclimation enhanced tolerance to high salinity stress, while tolerance of low salinities was hardly affected by acclimation salinity. Acclimation to low temperature (10°C) extended the survivable salinity range for T. brevicornis. High-salinity acclimation enhanced the survivable temperature range. Copepods acclimated to 60 survived significantly lower and higher temperatures than did 34-acclimated individuals. At high temperature, 75-acclimated female copepods had the highest median lethal temperature, 38.9°C. Females were significantly more resistant to high temperatures than males. The copepods were seen to have a very low median lethal temperature when frozen into solid ice for 2 h; 50% mortality occurred at-16.9°C in 10°C, 34-acclimated T. brevicornis. Salinity preference experiments demonstrated an ability to discriminate between salinities differing by as little as 3. Copepods acclimated to 34 chose salinities near their acclimation salinity; individuals acclimated to 5 favoured slightly higher salinities, while copepods acclimated to 60 chose rather lower salinities.     

Influence of salinity on embryonic development and the distribution ofSepia officinalis in the Delta Area (South Western part of The Netherlands)

The effect of salinity on embryonic development ofSepia officinalis (cuttlefish) in the Delta Area (South Western part of The Netherlands) was investigated in 1988/1989, and compared with data concerning the distribution ofS. officinalis in the three main parts of this area: Oosterschelde, Westerschelde and Grevelingen. Embryos hatched in water collected at Yerseke (Oosterschelde), Vlissingen (Western part of the Westerschelde) and Bommenede (Grevelingen), i.e., at salinity values above 28.1, but not in water sampled at Hoedekenskerke and Hansweert (Middle and Eastern part of the Westerschelde; salinities below 22.0). Under laboratory conditions, using diluted Oosterschelde water, the highest hatching percentages ofS. officinalis were found at salinities above 29.8. Some embryos hatched at a salinity value of 26.5 but no hatching occurred at salinities below 23.9. In embryos exposed to salinity changes during late embryonic development, the developmental rate decreased at salinity values of 28.7 or less. Below 22.4 embryos with morphological malformations were found. It can be concluded that salinity is an important factor limiting the distribution ofS. officinalis in most parts of the Delta Area, with the exception of the Western part of the Westerschelde and the Grevelingen.Contribution no. 489 of the Library of the Delta Institute for Hydrobiological Research     

Salinity dependence of sexual and asexual reproduction in the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis

A salinity dependent mictic response was observed in a clone of Brachionus plicatilis cultured in the 2 to 4 salinity range. This response was related to asexual exponential reproduction rates (G) and could be divided into three categories: (a) no mixis occurred at a salinity of 35 S and above, where G values were lower than 0.30 d^-1, (b) low mictic levels in rotifers cultured at 2 and 30 S, where G values ranged between 0.40 to 0.50 d^-1, and (c) high mictic levels in rotifers cultured at salinities ranging between 4 and 20 S, where G values ranged between 0.50 to 0.85 d^-1. Fluctuations in mictic levels varied with time during the course of the experiments. Results suggest that salinity conditions leading to optimal parthenogenic reproduction also support mixis.     

Effects of salinity on respiration and nitrogen excretion in two species of echinoderms

The 30-d survival limit of Eupentacta quinquesemita and Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis is 12–13 S. The activity coefficient (1 000/righting time in seconds) of stepwise acclimated sea urchins declined from 16.3 at 30 S to 3.5 at 15 S. Oxygen consumption rates (QO₂) of both species held at 30 S and 13°C were highest in June and lowest in December. During the summer, when environmental salinity is most variable in southeastern Alaska, the QO₂ of both species held at 30, 20 and 15 S varied directly with salinity. Perivisceral fluid PO₂ varied directly with acclimation salinity in sea urchins, but not in sea cucumbers. Perivisceral fluid oxygen content of acclimated sea urchins was significantly lower at 15 and 20 S than at 30 S due to reduced PO₂ and extracellular fluid volume at the lower salinities. The QO₂ of both species varied directly with ambient salinity during a 30-10-30. semidiurnal pattern of fluctuating salinity. No change occurred in the average QO₂ of either species over a 15-30-15. semidiurnal pattern of fluctuating salinity. Sea urchin perivisceral fluid PO₂ declined as ambient salinity fluctuated away from the acclimation salinity in both cycles and increased as ambient salinity returned to the acclimation salinity. Total nitrogen excretion of stepwise acclimated sea cucumbers declined significantly from 30 to 15 S, but there was no salinity effect on total nitrogen excretion in sea urchins. Ammonia excretion varied directly with salinity in stepwise acclimated sea cucumbers (67–96% of total nitrogen excreted), but there was no salinity effect on ammonia excretion (89–95% of total nitrogen excreted) of sea urchins. Urea excretion did not vary with salinity in sea cucumbers (2–4% of total nitrogen excreted) or sea urchins (2–9% of total nitrogen excreted). Primary amines varied inversely with salinity in sea cucumbers (2–30% of total nitrogen excreted), but did not vary with salinity in sea urchins (2–4% of total nitrogen excreted). The oxygen: nitrogen ratio of both species indicated that carbohydrate and/or lipid form the primary catabolic substrate. The O:N ratio did not vary as a function of salinity. Both species are more tolerant to reduced salinity than previously reported, however, rates of oxygen consumption and/or nitrogen excretion are modified by salinity as well as season.     

Zooplankton of the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary. The distribution of four copepods in relation to salinity

The seasonal variations in distribution and abundance of the common zooplankton species in the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary were related to the salinity regimes observed over the period November 1973 to February 1975. The dominant constituents in all regions were the calanoid copepods, which reached maximum densities in July: approximately 100 times their winter levels. Four zooplankton assemblages were recognised using an objective classification program which computed similarity coefficients and used group-average sorting. The assemblages existed along the salinity gradient observed from the Severn Estuary to the Celtic Sea. The assemblages were classified as true estuarine, estuarine and marine, euryhaline marine and stenohaline marine and were characterized by the copepods Eurytemora affinis (Poppe) (<30S), Acartia bifilosa var. inermis (rose) (27 to 33.5S), Centropages hamatus (Lilljeborg) (31 to 35S) and Calanus helgolandicus (Claus) (>33S), respectively.     

Effects of temperature and salinity on larval development ofNecora puber (Brachyura: Portunidae)

Temperature and salinity affected both length of larval development and mortality inNecora puber collected in the Ría de A Coruña during December 1984 and January 1985. Development time decreased considerably with increased temperature. This decrease was sharper when temperature increased from 15° to 20°C than when it increased from 20° to 25°C. At 35S, average development took 48, 32 and 28 d at 15°, 20° and 25°C, respectively. At the three salinities tested (25, 30 and 35), larval development was completed only at 15°C, at 20°C/30 and 35S, and at 25°C/35S. Development times at 15° and 20°C were highly significantly different at both 35 and 30S (P 0.01). However, there were no significant differences between development times at 20° and 25°C (P > 0.05). Within any one specific temperature series, no significant difference was observed between the salinity values tested (P > 0.05). The duration of each of the five zoeal stages was similar within each and the same temperature/salinity combination, whereas the duration of the megalop was twice as long as any of the zoeal stages. The combination of the lowest temperature (15°C) and the highest salinity (35) tested resulted in the greatest larval survival of 28%. Highest mortality occurred at 25°C, at which temperature development was completed only at 35S. A sharp drop in larval survival was observed in the transition period Zoea V — megalop in all combinations of temperature and salinity tested. Within the limits of tolerance to temperature and salinity, the former effected more pronounced differences in the duration of larval development, while salinity appeared to constitute a limiting factor for survival.     

The significance of temperature,salinity and zinc as lethal factors for the mussel Mytilus edulis in a polluted estuary

Mussels, Mytilus edulis L., were subjected to high temperatures, low salinities and dissolved zinc in order to investigate possible environmental hazards of a discharge of heated effluent near Newport on the Yarra River estuary, Victoria, Australia. Exposure to zinc at 0.8 mg l^-1 for 14 d in otherwise favourable conditions significantly increased mortality resulting from subsequent exposure to temperatures between 29° to 31°C for 24 h without added zinc. Mussels collected from water of temporarily lowered salinity (8–16 S) showed significantly lower thermal resistance than controls collected from marine salinities (35 S). Mussels taken from a marine environment and exposed to 10 S died at a rate which increased with temperature. Mussels acclimated for 14 d to combinations of 10°, 16° and 22°C and 22 and 35 S, and subsequently exposed to increased zinc concentrations accumulated zinc to levels which were independent of temperature and salinity. The zinc was lethal more quickly at 22°C and 35 S than at the lower temperatures and salinities. The modes of toxic action of the salinity, zinc and temperature factors are discussed and it is argued that zinc which has been found accumulated in mussels near Newport could be reducing their resistance to raised temperatures and perhaps other stresses, probably as a result of effects on lysosomal functioning. The evidence suggests that the heated effluent will accelerate any toxic effects of zinc or low salinities which occur near Newport and so poses a hazard in winter as well as in summer.     

Salinity tolerance of benthic estuarine diatoms as tested with a rapid polarographic measurement of photosynthesis

Measurements of net photosynthesis of benthic estuarine diatoms were made by polarographic registration of oxygen saturation. A measuring cell was constructed in which media with salinities of 2.0 to 100.7 were pumped over the algae between measurements. Diatoms from unialgal cultures and mixed populations from intertidal flats appeared to be highly tolerant of extreme salinities. During short-term exposures (20 min) the net photosynthesis of the algae did not drop below 70% of the initial values, within the salinity range 4.0 to 60.0. Prolonged exposure (up to 6 h) gave essentially the same results. Populations of benthic diatoms, sampled from field stations with mean salinities of about 30, 12, and below 5, showed only gradual differences in their tolerance of salinities between 2.0 and 33.7. Two species, Navicula arenaria and Nitzschia sigma, were cultured in media ranging in salinity from 8.0 to 45.0 and from 2.0 to 45, respectively. The tolerance to changing salinity was only slightly affected by the salinity of the medium in the preculture. The role of salinity in the production and distribution of intertidal diatoms is discussed.     

Effects of tidal fluctuations of salinity on pericardial fluid composition of the American oyster Crassostrea virginica

Crassostrea virginica Gmelin were subjected to simulated tidal fluctuations of salinity, and the subsequent effects on osmotic and ionic composition of the pericardial fluid, body water and valve movements were investigated. Ambient salinity fluctuation patterns of 20-10-20, 15-10-15 and 10-5-10 were simulated during 24.8-h periods. An additional 10-5-10 S experiment was performed using a dilution water approximating the ionic composition of Mississippi River water with regard to Mg⁺⁺, Ca⁺⁺ and SO ₄ ⁼ , instead of deionized water. Finally the effects of a 2-week diurnal fluctuation pattern between 20 and 10 S were investigated with respect to pericardial fluid composition. Pericardial fluid osmolality, concentrations of Cl^-, Na⁺, Mg⁺⁺, K⁺, Ca⁺⁺ and ninhydrin-positive substances (NPS) were analyzed periodically throughout all experiments. Pericardial fluid osmolality was slightly hyperosmotic as ambient water salinity decreased during a cycle, and then became slightly hyposmotic as ambient salinity increased. In the 2-week experiment, pericardial fluid osmolality tracked ambient seawater closely through Day 5, but became more intermediate between high and low seawater values as the experiment progressed. Similar patterns during fluctuations of salinity were observed for Na⁺, Cl^-, Mg⁺⁺ and Ca⁺⁺. Pericardial fluid K⁺ levels did not track ambient seawater as closely as did other ions. The ionic composition of dilution water had little effect on the osmotic or ionic response of the oyster's pericardial fluid. Pericardial fluid NPS level varied inversely with salinity during the 20-10-20 cycle. During the longterm fluctuation experiment, NPS values gradually decreased over the 2-week period compared to constant salinity control values. Percent body water also varied inversely with ambient salinity. Solute movement accounted for most of the change in pericardial fluid osmolality during the simulated cycles with water movement responsible for 1 to 11%. Water movement contributed more to the change of pericardial fluid osmolality during the decreasing salinity phase than the increasing phase of a given cycle. During 20-10-20 S cycles, oyster valves remained open 56% of the time (n=23). In contrast, when salinity was abruptly changed from 20 to 10 within 5 min, valve closure occurred in 4.8±0.3 min (n=20). Valves did not reopen for 19.3±1.2 h (n=15).     

Effect of temperature and salinity on larval development of southern king crab (Lithodes antarcticus)

Larvae of Lithodes antarcticus Jacquinot were reared in October, 1981 from hatching to the glaucothoe stage at 16 temperature/salinity combinations (5.5°; 7.5°; 9.5° and 13.5°C; 26, 29, 32 and 35 S) to determine optimal environmental conditions for larval development. The highest survival percentage was obtained in the culture at 7.5°C and diminished according to temperature increase or decrease. High temperature cultures significantly shorten the larval life duration, but produce large mortalities. At 5.5°C mortality occurred almost exclusively during the moult to glaucothoe stage. Higher survival percentages were obtained as salinity was increased. In the lowest salinity culture (26 S) no zoea reached the post-larvae stage at culture temperatures. The best T/S combination was obtained at 7.5°C and 35 S, with a survival percentage of 29%. The shortest zoeal developments were obtained at 32 S in all culture temperatures. Salinity also affects larvae coloration: there is a pigment concentration on erythrophores, which causes a color decrease.     

Normoxic and anoxic energy metabolism of the southern oyster drillThais haemastoma during salinity acclimation

The energetic cost associated with salinity acclimation was determined in the marine gastropodThais haemastoma by direct calorimetry under normoxic and anoxic conditions. Snails were collected from Caminada Pass near Grand Isle, Louisiana (Longitude 90°2W; Latitude 29°2N) in September 1987. Metabolic heat flux of snails acclimated to and measured at 10 or 30 S was similar at 15.06 or 16.39 J g^–1 dry wt h^–1, respectively, (corresponding to 0.76 or 0.83 ml O₂ g^–1 dry flesh wt h^–1) under normoxic conditions, and 2.39 or 2.53 J g^–1 dry wt h^–1 under anoxic conditions. Inter-individual variability was high, obscuring the effect of salinity gradient on heat flux. When standardized to the pre-transfer control level of each individual under anoxic conditions, a significant increase (55%) of energy expenditure was observed for snails transferred to hyperosmotic conditions. In contrast, heat flux varied insignificantly in individuals in the anoxic 30 to 10 S transfer. After transfer of individuals from 10 to 30 S under normoxic conditions, heat flux was depressed initially to 38% of the control rate, but recovered after 14 h to a higher metabolic rate (56%) than the pre-transfer control rate. After transfer of individuals from 30 to 10 S under normoxic conditions, the standardized heat flux decreased to 28% of the control rate, followed by a 20 h period of recovery to the control rate. The energy cost of intracellular hypoosmotic regulation was less than hyperosmotic regulation under anoxic conditions. The retraction of the foot ofT. haemastoma after normoxic salinity transfers did not generally correlate with the time course of metabolic heat flux.     

Survival and chloride ion regulation of the porcelain crab Petrolisthes armatus exposed to mercury

Acute toxicity bioassays conducted at various salinities demonstrated that mercury (as mercuric chloride) at low concentrations was lethal to Petrolisthes armatus. Ninety-six hour LC₅₀ values varied from 50 to 64 parts per billion (ppb) of mercury, depending on test salinities. Lower salinities. decreased the time to death of mercuryexposed crabs. Differences in survival after 96 h due to salinity were not statistically significant. Blood chloride concentrations were regulated hyperchloride to the medium at low salinities and hypochloride at high salinities by acclimated crabs. The salinity isochloride to blood was 20 S. Transfer of crabs from 15 S to salinities ranging from 7 to 35 S resulted in new steadystate chloride levels within 12 h. Exposure to 50 ppb mercury did not alter chloride ion regulation of either acclimated crabs or crabs adjusting to new salinities.     

The effect of salinity and cyclic temperature on larval development of the mud-crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Brachyura: Xanthidae) reared in the laboratory

Larvae of Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Gould) were reared from hatching to the first or second crab stages in 11 combinations of salinities and cyclic temperatures (5, 20, and 35 S at 20° to 25°C, 25° to 30°C, and 30° to 35°C; 25 S at 20° to 25°C and 30° to 35°C). The larvae survived to the megalops and first crab stages in all salinities and cycles of temperature other than 5 S at 30° to 35°C. The best survival to the megalops (94%) and first crab (90%) stages occurred in 20 S, 20° to 25°C. In all other combinations of salinities and temperatures there was a reduction in survival to the first crab stage. The duration of the larval stages was affected significantly by temperature, whereas the effect of salinity on the mean days from hatching to the first crab stage was not consistent at the different temperature cycles. Development to the first crab stage required the shortest time in 20 S, 30° to 35°C (mean 12.3 days), and the longest time in 5 and 35 S, 20° to 25°C (mean 22.6 days and 21.6 days, respectively). Megalops larvae reared in 35 S at all cycles of temperature, as well as larvae in 20 and 25 S, 30° to 35°C, showed a high percentage of abnormality, with the highest percentage occurring in 35 S, 30° to 35°C. It appears that larval development of R. harrisii is strongly influenced by environmental factors and not solely related to genetic differences.This research was supported by grants from the Nordic Council for Marine Biology and the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission [Grant No. At-(40-1)-4377].Contribution No. 116, Zoological Museum, University of Oslo, Norway.     

Aspects of nitrogen metabolism of the common mussel Mytilus edulis: Adaptation to abrupt and fluctuating changes in salinity

Mytilus edulis L. were exposed to abrupt (3015 and 1530) and fluctuating (sinusoidal 12 h cycles of 301530) changes in salinity, and the changes in the total osmoconcentration of the haemolymph were recorded. The response of nitrogen metabolism to the altered extracellular osmotic concentrations was investigated in terms of the concentrations of the total NPS (ninhydrin-positive substances) pool and the individual amino acids of the tissues, the concentration of the amino acids of the haemolymph, and the rates of excretion of ammonia and amino acids by whole individuals. The haemolymph became isosmotic with the seawater with abrupt changes in salinity, but with fluctuating salinity was slightly hyperosmotic as the salinity decreased and then slightly hypo-osmotic as the salinity increased. This resulted in a reduction in the extent of the extracellular osmotic change compared to the change in fluctuating salinity to which it was exposed. Total NPS of the tissues decreased with an abrupt decrease in salinity and increased with an abrupt increase in salinity, but a seasonal dependence of the response was indicated. The short-term response of tissue NPS to fluctuating salinity was equivocal, but with long-term exposure the concentration declined. Ammonia and amino acid excretion increased with both an abrupt decrease in salinity and fluctuating salinity and decreased with an abrupt increase in salinity. Haemolymph amino acids increased with an abrupt decrease in salinity. The increased rates of nitrogen excretion accounted for the reductions in the NPS concentrations of the tissues except in the early stages of fluctuating salinity. Taurine, aspartate, threonine, serine, glycine and arginine declined with an abrupt decrease in salinity while alanine and glutamate increased slightly. With an abrupt increase in salinity, alanine and ammonia accumulated in the tissues and then declined while the other amino acids increased slowly over a longer time-course. Similar individual amino acid responses were seen with long-term exposure to fluctuating salinity, except for taurine which did not decrease in concentration. On the basis of the changes in tissue amino acids and ammonia, it is suggested that the alanine dehydrogenase reaction is the primary nitrogen-fixing reaction in marine bivalves such as M. edulis.     

Initiation of feeding and salinity tolerance in the pacific lamprey Lampetra tridentata

Changes in salinity tolerance were determined during metamorphosis in Lampetra tridentata. Lampreys in Phase 5 of metamorphosis were unable to withstand salinities>13.4S, while those in Phase 6 survived direct transfer to sea water (30S). This abrupt change in tolerance coincided with the opening of the foregut lumen. Parasitic feeding began at the end of Phase 7 of metamorphosis following the completion of tooth development.