Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T17:36:31.429Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Ionic regulation and buoyancy in some planktonic organisms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

C. Newton
Affiliation:
Biological Sciences, Institute of Environmental & Biological Sciences, University of Lancaster, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LAI 4YQ
W. T. W. Potts
Affiliation:
Biological Sciences, Institute of Environmental & Biological Sciences, University of Lancaster, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LAI 4YQ

Extract

Magnesium/chlorine and sulphur/chlorine ratios have been measured in the body fluids of some planktonic organisms by x-ray emission analysis of frozen hydrated specimens in a scanning electron microscope. Homarus vulgaris (Anthropoda: Decapoda) larvae excluded Mg2+ and SO42-ions from the haemolymph, but to a lesser extent than does the adult lobster. Bipinnaria larvae of Asterias (Echinodermata) excluded Mg2+ and SO42-ions from the coelomic fluid. Obelia medusae excluded Mg2+ and SO42-ions from the mesogloea but concentrate them in the gastrovascular system. The high concentration of sulphate in the gastrovascular fluid of medusae has been confirmed by rhodizonate titration in Cyanea and Rhizostoma jellyfish. Some implications of magnesium and sulphate regulation are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bone, Q., Brownlee, C., Bryan, G. W., Burt, G. R., Dando, P. R., Liddicoat, M. I., Pulsford, A. L. & Ryan, K. P., 1987. On the differences between the two ‘indicator’ species of chaetognath, Sagitta setosa and S. elegans. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 67, 545560.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Delage, Y., 1902. Quelques expériences et observations sur les Astéries. I. Régénération de l'hydropore. Archives de Zoologie Expérimentale et Générale, Series III, 10, 237239.Google Scholar
Denton, E. J. & Shaw, T. I., 1962. The buoyancy of gelatinous marine animals, journal of Physiology, 161, 1415P.Google Scholar
Dietrich, G., 1957. General oceanography. New York: Interscience Publishers.Google Scholar
Hazelwood, D. H., Potts, W. T. W. & Fleming, W.R., 1970. Further studies on the sodium and water metabolism of the fresh-water medusa, Craspedacusta sowerbyi. Zeitschrift für Vergleichende Physiologie, 67,186191.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koizumi, T. & Hosoi, K., 1936. On the inorganic composition of the medusae: Aequorea coerulescens (Brandt), Dactylometra pacifica Goette and Cyanea capillata Eschscholtz. Science Reports of the Tohoku Imperial University, Series 4. Biology, 10, 709719.Google Scholar
Lambert, C. C. & Lambert, G., 1978. Tunicate eggs utilize ammonium ions for flotation. Science, New York, 200, 6465.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Martoja, R., Ballan-Dufrancais, C. & Roinel, N., 1980. Biological samples: preparation and analysis. In Microanalysis and scanning electron microscopy (ed. Maurice, F.et al.), pp. 357373. Orsay, France: Les Editions de Physique.Google Scholar
Millero, F., 1972. The partial molar volumes of electrolytes in aqueous solutions. In Water and aqueous solutions (ed. Home, R.A.), pp. 519564. New York: Wiley-Interscience.Google Scholar
Mills, C.E. & Vogt, R.G., 1984. Evidence that ion regulation in hydromedusae and ctenophores does not facilitate vertical migration. Biological Bulletin. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, 166, 216227.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Potts, W. T. W. & Parry, G., 1964. Osmotic and ionic regulation in animals. London: Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
Robertson, J. D., 1949. Ionic regulation in some marine invertebrates. Journal of Experimental Biology, 26, 182200.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Robertson, J. D., 1953. Further studies on ionic regulation in marine invertebrates Journal of Experimental Biology, 30, 277296.Google Scholar
Ruppert, E. E. & Balser, E. J., 1986. Nephridia in the larvae of hemichordates and echinoderms. Biological Bulletin. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, 171, 188196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sanders, N. K. & Childress, J. J., 1988. Ion replacement as a buoyancy mechanism in a pelagic deepsea crustacean. Journal of Experimental Biology, 138, 333–343.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vogel, A. L., 1948. A textbook of quantitative inorganic analysis. London: Longmans.Google Scholar