Preliminary Field Experiments on the Relative Importance of Pressure and Temperature on the Penetration of Marine Invertebrates into the Deep Sea

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Abstract
Specimens of the shore crab (Pachygrapsus crassipes) and of the mussel (Mytilus edulis diegensis) were lowered to various depths in the sea in open jars. After recovery they were compared with control specimens kept at 2[degree] C on board ship. When maintained at the maximum depth for one minute, death occurred in all crabs lowered more than about 900 m (ca. 90 kg/cm2 pressure). All were alive and active after lowering to 591 m or less (i.e., <61 kg/cm2). The mussels were able to survive much greater depths (to 2227 m) and pressures (to 227 kg/cm2). All controls remained alive and active, thus the damage was not caused by temperature. It remains uncertain whether the deleterious effects of pressure occurred during compression or during decompression.