Effects of extreme pH on the physiology of the Australian 'yabby' Cherax destructor: acute and chronic changes in haemolymph oxygen levels, oxygen consumption and metabolic levels

Respiration and metabolism of the freshwater crayfish Cherax destructor were investigated with respect to the acidification and alkalization of its environment. Crayfish were exposed for up to 504 h (21 days) to pH 4.5, pH 7.1 (control) or pH 8.0 water and oxygen consumption rate, haemolymph oxygen transport and haemolymph glucose and lactate concentrations were determined. The effect of reducing environmental [Ca2+] in acid water from 500 to 50 µmol l-1 was also examined. In acid water (500 µmol l-1 Ca2+), oxygen uptake by Cherax was reduced by 79 % after 504 h (21 days) compared with 'control' animals (pH 7.1, 500 µmol l-1 Ca2+). Haemolymph lactate concentration (mean 0.6 mmol l-1) remained constant, indicating that anaerobiosis was not important, while glucose concentrations were regulated within the range of control values (0.32±0.01 mmol l-1). The arterial-venous CO2 difference of Cherax haemolymph decreased after 288 h and PaO2 increased from 11.1±0.5 mmHg to 42.4±1.0 mmHg between 96 h and 288 h. Decreased oxygen uptake and delivery without compensatory increases in anaerobiosis or glucose levels describe a hypometabolic response to low pH. The hypometabolic response of Cherax was greater in alkaline water as shown by a 53 % reduction in O2 uptake rate compared with a 44 % reduction in acid-exposed (500 µmol l-1 Ca2+) animals after 96 h. This decrease in M(dot)O2 of alkaline-exposed animals was correlated with decreased haemolymph glucose levels (from 0.32±0.01 at 0 h to 0.06±0.01 mmol l-1 at 96 h). Lowering the [Ca2+] of the water both increased the magnitude of the effects of acid exposure and elicited further changes in haemolymph oxygen transport. The maintenance of high haemolymph PO2 during pH stress appears to reduce the involvement of haemocyanin, since this promotes decreased a­v CO2. Hypometabolism probably permits Cherax to conserve resources that might otherwise be used, however, for growth and reproduction. The implications for the fitness of the animal are discussed.