The regulation of haemolymph calcium concentration of the crab Carcinus maenas (L.)

Abstract

After acclimation, Carcinus can maintain calcium balance in dilute (35–100%) but not in low calcium sea water. 71% of total haemolymph calcium (9–54 +/− 0–42 mM) was in ionic form as compared with 90–9%(9–9mM) in sea water. On acclimation to dilute sea water the calcium activity of the haemolymph was greater than that of the medium, the difference being maintained by active calcium uptake. Carcinus is highly permeable to Ca2+, influx from sea water being 0–513 +/− 0–07 mumoles g-1 h-1 and the time constant for calcium influx 4-3 +/− 0–48 h. Calcium space represented ca. 25% wet body weight independent of body size or salinity of acclimation medium.