Zinc Regulation in the Lobster Homarus Gammarus: Importance of Different Pathways of Absorption and Excretion

1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Bryan ◽  
L. G. Hummerstone ◽  
Eileen Ward
Keyword(s):  
Sea Water ◽  
Carcinus Maenas ◽  
The Body ◽  
Shore Crab ◽  
Freshwater Crayfish ◽  
Uptake Mechanism ◽  
Major Pathway ◽  
Homarus Gammarus ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Body Concentration

Zinc is one of the most important of the essential trace metals and more than 90 zinc-containing enymes and proteins have been discovered: furthermore, zinc increases the activity of many other enzymes (Vallee, 1978). It is not surprising, therefore, that in some groups of animals the body concentration is regulated against fluctuations in intake. Decapod crustaceans comprise one such group, although the ways in which regulation is achieved vary from species to species. In the freshwater crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes, excretion in the faeces is a major pathway for removing zinc (Bryan, 1967a) whereas in the shore crab Carcinus maenas losses over the body surface also assume considerable importance (Bryan, 1966). On the other hand, preliminary work on the lobster Homarus gammarus (formerly H. vulgaris) suggests that in this species urinary excretion plays a major role in regulation (Bryan, 1964). The present work continues the study of zinc regulation in lobsters and its main aims are: (1) to measure rates of absorption from sea water over a wide range of concentrations and study the uptake mechanism; (2) to examine absorption from the stomach under different conditions; (3) to determine the relative importance of different pathways for the removal of zinc in response to various levels of intake.

scholarly journals Influence of temperature on intraspecific, unbalanced dyadic contests between crabs

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7845
Author(s):  
Allan T. Souza ◽  
Felipe O. Ribas ◽  
João F. Moura ◽  
Claudia Moreira ◽  
Joana Campos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carapace Width ◽  
Carcinus Maenas ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
The Body ◽  
Shore Crab ◽  
Temperature Conditions ◽  
Red Color ◽  
Shore Crabs ◽  
Influence Of Temperature On ◽  
Globally Distributed

Intraspecific agonistic interactions are widespread across the animal kingdom, with many individual morphological and physiological characteristics playing important roles in the fate of disputes. Additionally, changes to environmental conditions can influence the outcomes of animal contests. The shore crab (Carcinus maenas) is a globally distributed species, present in numerous coastal and estuarine temperate systems around the world. Although shore crabs are highly tolerant to changes in temperature, this parameter has important physiological effects on the species’ ecology, while its effects on behavior are not fully understood. Our study aims to investigate how different individual characteristics (such as sex, color morphotype, carapace and chela morphology) and temperature conditions affect the dyadic interactions between shore crabs when disputing food resources. In general, the differences in carapace width between opponents, their sexes, color morphotypes and the temperature conditions interacted and were important predictors of the contest fate. We found that the body size and color morphotype of C. maenas determined the fate of dyadic disputes. However, the higher temperatures disrupted the well-established dominance of the larger red color morphotype individuals. Overall, the agonistic contest results suggest higher plasticity than previously acknowledged.

The accumulation of 137Cs by brackish water invertebrates and its relation to the regulation of potassium and sodium

1963 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 541-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Bryan
Keyword(s):  
New Media ◽  
Brackish Water ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Indirect Evidence ◽  
The Body ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Concentration Factors ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Potamopyrgus Jenkinsi

The relationship between the ability of brackish water invertebrates to regulate Na and K and the extent to which the radioactive fission product 137Cs can be accumulated has been studied.The brackish water isopod Sphaeroma hookeri and the gastropod Potamopyrgus jenkinsi have been acclimatised to a wide range of sea-water dilutions. Unfed Sphaeroma can survive in sea-water concentrations of 100–2·5%, while Potamopyrgus can live fairly indefinitely in concentrations of 50–0·1%. Measurements of Na and K in the whole animals of both species and in the blood of Sphaeroma have been made. Salt movements are quite rapid and acclimatization to new media is achieved by both species in less than 10 h. Concentration factors for inactive K in particular increase to high values in the more dilute media.Uptake of the isotopes 42K and 137Cs from solution has been examined in both species over a range of sea-water concentrations. All of the body K is exchangeable with 42K and in Sphaeroma exchange of 42K between the blood and tissues is so rapid that the body surface appears to be the limiting factor in the uptake of the isotope. Both species exchange 42K more rapidly in the higher concentrations of sea water and one reason for this may be the existence of an exchange diffusion component of exchange which increases as the salinity of the medium is raised. Indirect evidence suggests that the excretion of 42K in urine is probably not an important factor in exchange.

Reducing Activity and the Formation of Base in the Shore Crab, Carcinus Maenas

1985 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 505-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter S. B. Digby
Keyword(s):  
Outer Surface ◽  
Biological Material ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Carcinus Maenas ◽  
Water Salinity ◽  
Shore Crab ◽  
Calcareous Deposits ◽  
Reducing Activity ◽  
Diffusion Potentials ◽  
Active Processes

Crustacean cuticle consists essentially of chitin impregnated and coated with protein which is tanned with quinone (Dennell, 1947a). The outer surface is most heavily tanned, and the cuticle is further strengthened by calcification. The various theories as to the mechanism of calcification in crustacean and other biological material have been reviewed briefly by Digby (1967). Most appear unsatisfactory for various reasons, and evidence was outlined that calcification might arise from the formation of base by processes which are essentially electrochemical in origin. The quinone-tanned protein of the cuticle is electrically semiconducting and supports electrode action in suitable gradients of potential (Digby, 1965), and small potential differences may arise by diffusion or by active processes. Thus the deposition of calcareous salts might arise partly at least by action comparable to that which takes place at a metallic cathode. In support of this, the position of the initial calcareous deposits in Carcinus maenas (L.) was found to change with the gradient of sea-water salinity in the manner expected if some control were exercised by diffusion potentials, acting across a thin semiconducting layer to generate small changes of pH (Digby, 1968).

Suspension feeding in larval crabs (Carcinus maenas)

1993 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 207-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Robert Factor ◽  
Barbara L. Dexter
Keyword(s):  
Size Range ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Carcinus Maenas ◽  
Epifluorescence Microscopy ◽  
Shore Crab ◽  
Suspension Feeding ◽  
Natural Diet ◽  
Crab Larvae ◽  
Water Suspensions ◽  
Detrital Particles

First-stage zoeal larvae of the green (shore) crab, Carcinus maenas (Crustacea: Brachyura: Portunidae), ingested three types of particles offered in sea-water suspensions. In experiments using two types of fluorescent particles (1–2 µm and 1–7 µm ) and living Dunaliella tertiolecta cells (5–7 µm), particles were ingested in at least 40% of the zoeae examined with brightfield, darkfield, and epifluorescence microscopy. These results suggest that green crab larvae may be capable of utilizing planktonic particles in the size range of bacteria, small algal cells, and organically-enriched detrital particles in their natural diet.

Effect of a chelating agent (EDTA) on zinc uptake and regulation by Palaemon elegans (Crustacea: Decapoda)

1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Nugegoda ◽  
P. S. Rainbow
Keyword(s):  
Sea Water ◽  
Chelating Agent ◽  
The Body ◽  
Zn Uptake ◽  
Zn Concentration ◽  
Zinc Concentrations ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Palaemon Elegans ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Body Concentration

The littoral prawn Palaetnon elegans Rathke regulates the body concentration of zinc at higher external zinc concentrations in the presence of EDTA. The dissolved zinc concentration in artificial sea water corresponding to the threshold of regulation breakdown changed from ca. 100 μg Zn 1-1 (ca. 1.53 μmol Zn 1-1) without EDTA, to ca. 316 μg Zn 1-1 (ca. 4.8 μmo1 Zn 1-1) in the presence of 8.6μmol EDTA 1-1 at 10 °C. The regulated body Zn concentration remained unchanged at 77–79 μg Zn g-1 dry wt with or without EDTA. Increased levels of EDTA in the medium decreased the rate of uptake of labelled zinc by P. elegans. The presence of 3 μmol EDTA 1-1 decreased the mean Zn uptake rate of prawns in 100 fig Zn 1-1 (ca. 1.53 μmol Zn 1-1) from 2.9 to 0.25% of total body Zn g-1 day"1 at 10 °C. The increased ability of P. elegans to regulate zinc in the presence of EDTA may be explained by the reduced bioavailability of the zinc-EDTA complex for uptake. There is marked individual variation in the rate of uptake of labelled zinc in prawns, even in the presence of the same concentration of zinc or zinc-EDTA.

The Physiology of the Antennal Gland of Carcinus Maenas (L.)

1969 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16
Author(s):  
R. BINNS
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Carcinus Maenas ◽  
Urine Flow ◽  
The Body ◽  
Antennal Gland ◽  
Urine Production ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Gland Function ◽  
Water Clearance

1. The space measured by inulin distribution, the ‘inulin volume’, has been determined, and represents approximately 20% of the body weight in crabs ranging in size from 20.0 to 57.2 g. 2. After the injection of labelled inulin into crabs, the increase in activity of the medium is equal to the fall in blood inulin in all dilutions of sea water. Clearance of inulin from the blood is due only to urine production, and therefore the molecule can be used for quantitative investigations of antennal gland function. 3. Urine production in various concentrations of sea water has been determined by measuring the clearance of inulin from the blood and the rates at which the tracer appeared in the external media. By these methods the mean rate of urine production in 100% sea water was estimated to be 4.4% body weight per day. In dilute sea water the rate of urine production increases; for example, in 50% sea water the urine flow is four times greater than in normal sea water.

Respiratory and Circulatory Adjustments during Aquatic Treadmill Exercise in the European Shore Crab Carcinus Maenas

1992 ◽  
Vol 162 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. M. HAMILTON ◽  
D. F. HOULIHAN
Keyword(s):  
Sea Water ◽  
Carcinus Maenas ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Co2 Exchange ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Shore Crab ◽  
Rate Of Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Novel Design ◽  
Cardiac Stroke Volume ◽  
Aquatic Treadmill

Carcinus maenas (L.) were exercised using a novel design of aquatic treadmill respirometer. Tethered exercise was performed in sea water at 5.8 m min−1 for 5min. The rate of oxygen consumption and the heart and scaphognathite beat rates increased at the onset of exercise, reaching a steady state within 180 s. The estimated haemolymph flow rate rose 2.6-fold during exercise, achieved by a 1.8-fold increase in heart rate and a 1.5-fold increase in the estimated cardiac stroke volume. The haemolymph total oxygen content difference increased significantly during exercise. Haemolymph total carbon dioxide content did not change significantly during exerise, but haemolymph pH deceased as a result of an L-lactate-induced metabolic acidosis. The acidosis may also have led to a reduced Bohr shift. It is concluded that O2 and CO2 exchange were not impaired during exercise and that C. maenas relied primarily upon O2 to fuel underwater running at 5.8 m min−1.

Potassium metabolism and the accumulation of 137Caesium by decapod Crustacea

1962 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Bryan ◽  
Eileen Ward
Keyword(s):  
Body Surface ◽  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
The Body ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Freshwater Crayfish ◽  
Marine Animals ◽  
Decapod Crustacea ◽  
Concentration Factors ◽  
Potassium Metabolism

SUMMARYThe accumulation of 137Cs from sea water has been examined in relation to potassium metabolism in the lobster Homarus vulgaris and in the prawn Palaemon serratus. In unfed animals 137Cs is taken up and lost far more slowly than 42K. Although all the inactive K in the animals can be exchanged with 42K, higher whole-animal concentration factors are reached for 137Cs (about eight for lobsters and twenty-five for prawns). This is because both species have higher plasma/medium ratios for 137Cs than K at equilibrium despite the selective excretion of 137Cs. Also, except for the hepatopancreas in lobsters and fed prawns, all soft tissues can probably attain higher tissue/plasma ratios for 137Cs than inactive K.Uptake of both isotopes has also been studied in the freshwater crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes pallipes. In crayfish in o-i % sea water 137Cs is not concentrated to the same extent as K by whole animals (50-200 for 137Cs against about 4500 for K). Although the situation between plasma and tissues resembles that in the marine animals, 137Cs cannot be accumulated in the plasma to the same degree as K. Crayfish selectively excrete 137Cs in the urine relative to K at a lower concentration than in the plasma.In the accumulation of 137Cs by all species, muscle is the principal limiting factor in uptake and loss, but with 42K the body surface becomes more limiting.Experiments on the absorption of 137Cs from food in prawns and freshwater crayfish have been carried out. In prawns in a constant environment, feeding is probably less important than uptake over the body surface while in crayfish feeding is probably much more important.

Calcification in the Shore Crab, Carcinus Maenas (L.): pH and the Precipitation of Carbonate From Sea Water and Blood

1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 233-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter S. B. Digby
Keyword(s):  
Sea Water ◽  
Carcinus Maenas ◽  
Shore Crab ◽  
Local Formation ◽  
Mixed Composition ◽  
Blood Ph ◽  
Water Ph ◽  
Dilute Suspensions ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
The Mean

Much evidence has suggested that calcification in Carcinus and certain other marine organisms may arise at least partly by the local formation of base. The extent of changes of pH needed to precipitate calcium carbonate from sea water or from the blood of the crab are not known with certainty. These have been investigated, using sea water and crabs from the coast of Maine.Mean sea water pH, mostly as measured in aerated samples used for experiments in the laboratory, was 8·00, a little below the values commonly found close to the shore in summer. The corresponding mean blood pH was 7·12. Crushing calcified crab cuticle in sea-water raised the pH, showing the sea water to be below saturation with the salts concerned. The rise in pH was slightly greater in the more dilute suspensions, an effect attributed to the mixed composition of the calcifying salts. Thus in one group of experiments cuticle crushed in sea water in proportions 1:20 and 112·7 raised its pH by 0·66 and 0·62 units respectively, and extrapolation suggested that interstitial fluid of almost zero volume would equilibrate at 0·38 pH units above sea water. Crushing cuticle in crab blood in proportion 1:2·7 raised its pH by 1·03 units, showing the plasma also to be unsaturated with carbonate.Carbonates were precipitated from sea water by rendering it alkaline with sodium hydroxide; in four experiments the first crystallites were found in samples in which in 3 days after addition of base pH had fallen to between 8·46 and 9·30. In a longer series of experiments with crab plasma, crystals were first seen in samples in which after three days the mean pH had fallen to 8–09. Crystallites at the surface formed mosaics of spherulites closely resembling those of normal crab cuticle.

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