AN ANALYSIS OF RESPONSE TO OSMOTIC STRESS IN SELECTED DECAPOD CRUSTACEA

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Abstract
Osmotic regulation in 12 species of decapod Crustacea was investigated. The crabs, Pachygrapsus crassipes, Birgus latro, Hemigrapsus nudus, H. oregonensis and Uca crenulata are osmo-regulators in concentrated and dilute sea water. Such regulation is established immediately and may persist or gradually weaken, usually reaching a steady state within 24 hours. Estimates on solute space volumes were calculated as 40% body weight for Emerita analoga, 54% for Pachygrapsus and 50% for Birgus. Concentration changes in the blood of Emerita and Pachygrapsus are caused mostly by salt rather than water. Evidence is produced that the gills of Pachygrapaus are osmo-regulatory organs. Regulating crustaceans are shown to have less permeable exo-skeletons than non-regulating species. A discussion of the energetics of osmotic regulation reaches the conclusion that increases in metabolism in osmotic stresses are not direct reflections of increased osmotic work but of muscular or other activity.

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