Osmoregulatory ability of Chiromantes ortmanni (Crosnier, 1965) subjected to dilute and hypersaline seawater
Gillikin, D.P. (2004). Osmoregulatory ability of Chiromantes ortmanni (Crosnier, 1965) subjected to dilute and hypersaline seawater. Crustaceana 77(1): 67-74. dx.doi.org/10.1163/156854004323037892 In: Crustaceana. Brill Academic Publishers: Leiden; Köln; New York; Boston. ISSN 0011-216X; e-ISSN 1568-5403, more |  |
| Keywords | Bioenergetics
Biology > Physiology > Ecophysiology
Distribution > Ecological distribution
Fauna > Aquatic organisms > Aquatic animals > Shellfish > Marine organisms > Marine crustaceans
Lethal limits
Osmoregulation
Properties > Biological properties > Tolerance > Salinity tolerance
Water > Saline water
Water > Sea water
Grapsidae MacLeay, 1838 [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Abstract | The short-term osmoregulatory ability and salinity tolerance of Chiromantes ortmanni was studied in the laboratory. C. ortmanni is a non-burrowing, high shore mangrove crab often subjected to extreme salinity fluctuations. They were found to be exceptional osmoregulators in salinities ranging from 0‰ to 65‰ after three days. They could also osmoregulate in 80‰ for at least 24 hours, but 96‰ proved to be lethal after just 12 hours. Osmotic capacity suggests that they are best suited for salinities ranging from about 16‰ to 48‰. As they are frequently found in salinities higher than this, it is hypothesized that they tolerate the higher energetic costs of large osmotic gradients as a trade-off for other benefits such as reduced predation and food competition. |
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