Differential tolerance of body fluid dilution in two species of tropical hermit crabs: Not due to osmotic/ionic regulation

Stephen G. Dunbar; Mike Coates

doi:10.1016/j.cbpb.2003.10.009

Differential tolerance of body fluid dilution in two species of tropical hermit crabs: Not due to osmotic/ionic regulation

Stephen G. Dunbar, Mike Coates

Earth and Biological Sciences

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Abstract

The tropical intertidal hermit crabs Clibanarius taeniatus and Clibanarius virescens were examined for differences in survival and physiological responses in low salinity. We found that C. taeniatus survived better in dilute seawater than C. virescens and that these species did not differ in their abilities to regulate haemolymph osmolarity, ionic concentration of the haemolymph or body fluid volume. We also found no difference in oxygen consumption between the species when acutely exposed to a range of temperature and salinity combinations. It is concluded that the greater survival in dilute seawater by C. taeniatus compared to C. virescens is due to a greater tolerance of dilution of body fluids by C. taeniatus. Differences in tolerance to dilute seawater may influence the habitat preferences of these species within the same geographical area.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	321-337
Number of pages	17
Journal	Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - A Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Volume	137
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpb.2003.10.009
State	Published - Feb 2004

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Biochemistry
Physiology
Aquatic Science
Animal Science and Zoology
Molecular Biology

Keywords

Anomura
Clibanarius
Hermit crabs
Low salinity
Osmoregulation
Survival

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title = "Differential tolerance of body fluid dilution in two species of tropical hermit crabs: Not due to osmotic/ionic regulation",

abstract = "The tropical intertidal hermit crabs Clibanarius taeniatus and Clibanarius virescens were examined for differences in survival and physiological responses in low salinity. We found that C. taeniatus survived better in dilute seawater than C. virescens and that these species did not differ in their abilities to regulate haemolymph osmolarity, ionic concentration of the haemolymph or body fluid volume. We also found no difference in oxygen consumption between the species when acutely exposed to a range of temperature and salinity combinations. It is concluded that the greater survival in dilute seawater by C. taeniatus compared to C. virescens is due to a greater tolerance of dilution of body fluids by C. taeniatus. Differences in tolerance to dilute seawater may influence the habitat preferences of these species within the same geographical area.",

keywords = "Anomura, Clibanarius, Hermit crabs, Low salinity, Osmoregulation, Survival",

author = "Dunbar, {Stephen G.} and Mike Coates",

note = "Funding Information: SGD extends his appreciation for considerable help in the collection and maintenance of animals to Sabine Dunbar. Thanks, also to the biology technical staff of Central Queensland University and members of Capricornia College (CQU) for their assistance. This work was supported in part by a Cooperative Research Centre for Coastal Zone, Estuary and Waterway Management scholarship to SGD and by CQU Merit and CQU Centre for Land and Water Resource Management Grants to MC. We are grateful to Professor D. Hessinger for valuable comments on the manuscript.",

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T2 - Not due to osmotic/ionic regulation

AU - Dunbar, Stephen G.

AU - Coates, Mike

N1 - Funding Information: SGD extends his appreciation for considerable help in the collection and maintenance of animals to Sabine Dunbar. Thanks, also to the biology technical staff of Central Queensland University and members of Capricornia College (CQU) for their assistance. This work was supported in part by a Cooperative Research Centre for Coastal Zone, Estuary and Waterway Management scholarship to SGD and by CQU Merit and CQU Centre for Land and Water Resource Management Grants to MC. We are grateful to Professor D. Hessinger for valuable comments on the manuscript.

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N2 - The tropical intertidal hermit crabs Clibanarius taeniatus and Clibanarius virescens were examined for differences in survival and physiological responses in low salinity. We found that C. taeniatus survived better in dilute seawater than C. virescens and that these species did not differ in their abilities to regulate haemolymph osmolarity, ionic concentration of the haemolymph or body fluid volume. We also found no difference in oxygen consumption between the species when acutely exposed to a range of temperature and salinity combinations. It is concluded that the greater survival in dilute seawater by C. taeniatus compared to C. virescens is due to a greater tolerance of dilution of body fluids by C. taeniatus. Differences in tolerance to dilute seawater may influence the habitat preferences of these species within the same geographical area.

AB - The tropical intertidal hermit crabs Clibanarius taeniatus and Clibanarius virescens were examined for differences in survival and physiological responses in low salinity. We found that C. taeniatus survived better in dilute seawater than C. virescens and that these species did not differ in their abilities to regulate haemolymph osmolarity, ionic concentration of the haemolymph or body fluid volume. We also found no difference in oxygen consumption between the species when acutely exposed to a range of temperature and salinity combinations. It is concluded that the greater survival in dilute seawater by C. taeniatus compared to C. virescens is due to a greater tolerance of dilution of body fluids by C. taeniatus. Differences in tolerance to dilute seawater may influence the habitat preferences of these species within the same geographical area.

KW - Anomura

KW - Clibanarius

KW - Hermit crabs

KW - Low salinity

KW - Osmoregulation

KW - Survival

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Differential tolerance of body fluid dilution in two species of tropical hermit crabs: Not due to osmotic/ionic regulation

Abstract

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Keywords

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