Frederick P. Thurberg

Effects of copper and cadmium on osmoregulation and oxygen consumption in two species of estuarine crabs

Green crabs (Carcinus maenas) and rock crabs (Cancer irroratus) were exposed to various concentrations of copper as cupric chloride (CuCl2 · 2 H2O), and cadmium as cadmium chloride (CdCl2 · 21/2 H2O) for 48 h. The exposures were conducted at 5 different salinities. At the end of each exposure period, tests of blood-serum osmolality and gill-tissue oxygen consumption were performed. Copper-exposed crabs exhibited loss of osmoregulatory function with increasing copper concentration until normally hyperosmotic serum became isosmotic with the surrounding medium. Cadmium elevated greencrab serum above its normal hyperosmotic state. Copper had no effect on gill-tissue oxygen consumption; however, cadmium reduced the rate of oxygen consumption in both species tested.

Effects of metals on the behaviour and oxygen consumption of the mud snail

Abstract The behaviour and oxygen consumption rates of adult mud snails, exposed to five metals individually (arsenic, cadmium, copper, silver and zinc) and to one combination of two metals (cadmium and copper), have been examined. The oxygen uptake of distressed and retracted snails was found to be lower than that of controls after exposure to all individual metals except cadmium, which resulted in an elevation of oxygen consumption. The combination of copper and cadmium resulted in a lower rate than either metal alone.

Changes in oxygen consumption of the american lobster, homarus american us, during the molt cycle

Abstract 1. 1. Variations in oxygen consumption of the American lobster, Homarus americanus , are reported during the molt cycle. 2. 2. Oxygen consumption rates rise as molting approaches, then drop rapidly. 3. 3. The results of this study are important to researchers who use oxygen consumption as a method of determining the effects of environmental Stressors (including pollutants) on crustaceans.

Physiological response of juvenile striped bass,Morone saxatilis, to low levels of cadmium and mercury

Juvenile striped bass,Morone saxatilis, were exposed to 0.5, 2.5, and 5.0 parts per billion (ppb) cadmium as cadmium chloride for 30–90 days and to 1.0, 5.0, and 10.0 ppb mercury as mercuric chloride for 30–120 days. Following the longest exposure to each metal, the fish were allowed to recover for 30 days in running seawater. Gill-tissue respiration, glucose-6-phosphatase, malic enzyme, aspartate aminotransferase, and magnesium activation of AAT were measured. Animals exposed to either metal exhibited changes in gill-tissue respiration. There was no significant difference in enzyme activity during exposure to either metal; however, fish cleared for 30 days following exposure to cadmium exhibited a slight drop in liver AAT and G6PdH.

Respiratory response of cunners to silver

Abstract Cunners, a common inshore teleost fish of the north-east coast of the United States, were exposed to various concentrations of silver for 96 h. At the end of this exposure period measurements of gill-tissue oxygen consumption were made. Significant respiratory depression was noted after exposure to concentrations as low as 0.12 ppm. These results are compared to those of similar studies using cadmium and mercury as the test metals.

Coughing: A new description of ventilatory reversals produced by the lobster, Homarus americanus

1. 1. This report represents physiological evidence that reverse ventilatory pulses (coughing) produced by the lobster, Homarus americanus, are mechanically different from reversals previously described for lobsters and other crustaceans. 2. 2. This evidence is supported with behavioral observations and field experiments. 3. 3. Coughing occurs with higher frequency after the lobsters are exposed to some water-borne chemicals.