Rearing in intermediate salinity enhances immunity and disease-resistance of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.)

Studies were conducted to investigate the non-specific immune responses and disease-resistance of juvenile turbot Scophthalmus maximus,cultured at four different salinities(8,20,32 and 40) . Three concentrations(3.75 × 10 7,3.75 × 10 8 and 3.75 × 10 9 CFU/ml) of Vibrio anguillarum suspension were employed at each salinity to determine the 4-day LD 50 . The serum lysozyme activity,the alternative complement pathway activity(ACH50) and the phagocytosis percentage of head kidney in turbot were tested at 24,48 and 72 h post-challenge of V. anguillarum(1.1 × 10 8 CFU/ml,0.1 ml) ,respectively,to evaluate the non-specific immune responses at the selected rearing salinities. Fish reared at salinity 20 had the lowest mortality,namely,the highest 4-day LD 50 value(8.88 ± 0.17) . Besides,the lysozyme activity,ACH50 and the phagocytosis of turbot were the highest at the salinity 20,but with the lowest at the salinity 40 treatment regardless of sampling time. In addition,the non-specific immune activities kept increasing within 72 h post-challenge of V. anguillarum,except that the lysozyme activity increased from 24 to 48 h,and then decreased from 48 to 72 h at 40 significantly. These results together indicate that rearing in intermediate salinity(20) was able to enhance the immunity and disease-resistance of turbot.     

Influence of combined changes in salinity and copper modulation on growth and copper uptake in the tropical green macroalga Ulva reticulata

The influence of salinity on growth and Cu uptake in the green macroalga Ulva reticulata collected from the intertidal area in the Western Indian Ocean was studied under controlled laboratory conditions. Exposure concentrations ranged from 5 to 500 μg Cu l⁻¹ at five salinities (ranging 20–40). The accumulation of Cu increased with decreasing salinity, so that the uptake at 500 μg Cu l⁻¹ was approximately 2.7, 2.4 and 2.0 times higher at salinities of 20, 25, and 30 respectively, than uptake at salinity of 35, and with uptake being lowest at salinity of 40. Ulva maintained a positive growth rate over the whole salinity range (20–40), with highest rates at salinity of 35. When exposing to Cu at low salinities (20 and 25), the growth rate of Ulva was strongly inhibited suggesting an increase in toxicity of Cu with decreasing salinity. EC50 and NOEC increased with increase in salinity, implying a reduced Cu toxicity at high salinities. It was concluded that salinity needs to be considered when using macroalgae, such as U. reticulata, as a bioindicator of heavy metals in areas with heavy rainfall, underground fresh water intrusion or in estuaries, as they might accumulate more metals and be more negatively affected.     

盐度渐变对黄条鰤消化酶和超氧化物歧化酶活力及甲状腺激素的影响

为探讨黄条鰤(Seriola aureovittata)对盐度渐变的应激响应机制,设置盐度5、10、15、20、29和35共6个盐度渐变点,对幼鱼的消化酶活力、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和甲状腺激素(T4)等生理指标进行了检测和分析。研究显示:胃、肠、肝脏和幽门盲囊的脂肪酶的活性均在盐度29渐变点最高,在低盐度渐变点这4个组织的脂肪酶活性均随盐度降低而降低。肠和肝脏的蛋白酶活性在盐度29渐变点达到峰值,幽门盲囊的蛋白酶活性则在盐度35渐变点最高,且与其他盐度渐变点间有显著性差异(P<0.05)。胃、肠、肝脏的淀粉酶活性在盐度29渐变点最高,而幽门盲囊的淀粉酶活性在盐度35渐变点最高,但与盐度29渐变点无显著性差异(P>0.05)。血清SOD活性在盐度5渐变点显著低于其他盐度渐变点(P<0.05),SOD活性在盐度20和35渐变点与29渐变点无显著性差异(P>0.05)。血清T4浓度随着盐度的升高或降低均升高,盐度20渐变点与29渐变点的T4浓度无显著性差异(P>0.05)。研究显示,自然海水盐度29是黄条鰤幼鱼存活的适宜盐度,且黄条鰤幼鱼能较快适应略低盐度(20~29),但较低或较高盐度渐变点的消化酶活力和抗应激指标则显著异常。盐度渐变可引起黄条鰤幼鱼的消化生理、抗氧化水平和T4浓度的变化,黄条鰤幼鱼对外界盐度变化表现出较强的适应性。     

Impacts of Habitat Complexity on Physiology: Purple Shore Crabs Tolerate Osmotic Stress for Shelter

Purple shore crabs, Hemigrapsus nudus (Crustacea: Decapoda), can survive indefinitely in salinities of 8 (25% SW), but also tolerate short-term exposure to salinities as low as 2. In the laboratory their salinity preference range, determined from choice chamber experiments, is 22–32 and they can discriminate between pairs of salinities separated by a difference of 2. These crabs show a strong positive thigmotaxis and a weak negative phototaxis and tend to choose environments with available shelter. The presence of shelter significantly alters the behaviour of this species. When shelter is available the salinity preference range is 10–32. Even in salinities below this preference range, the presence of shelter prolongs the time spent in the lower test salinities. This change in behaviour has implications on the crab's physiology: the haemolymph osmolality falls to lower levels when crabs remain in low salinity under shelters. In the field, H. nudus is found in creeks with salinities close to freshwater and they may remain in this salinity for up to 11 h, if there are rocks under which to shelter. An increase in habitat complexity increases the number of crabs that are found within the creek. These crabs in the low salinity environment have a lower haemolymph osmolality than crabs on the nearby open shore. In H. nudus the behavioural selection of a shelter appears to outweigh the physiological costs associated with osmotic regulation of the body fluids. Therefore, the distribution of H. nudus in estuaries may depend more on the availability of suitable habitats rather than the salinity tolerance of this species.     

不同盐度和培育密度对杂交刺参幼体生长发育的影响

分析了6个不同盐度和5个培育密度对中国刺参和日本红刺参(Apostichopus japonicus)杂交幼体的生长、存活和附着的影响。盐度实验结果显示,受精后第5天,30和35盐度组幼体成活率最高,分别为46.7%和40.0%。第2天至第5天,30盐度组耳状幼体的生长最快,到第5天平均体长达到最大值672.18μm;30盐度组的幼体附着率最高,为17.8%,而15和20盐度组中均没有出现附着的稚参。培育密度实验结果显示,受精后第5天,0.1个/mL密度组的幼体成活率最高,为66.7%,但各密度组的幼体成活率差异均不显著。0.5个/mL密度组幼体生长最快,到第10天达到最大平均体长,为801.38μm;在所有培育密度实验组中,0.5个/mL密度组的幼体附着率最高,为19.1%。因此,为实现单位水体的苗种产量最大化,刺参杂交幼体培育的最佳盐度为30,最适宜的培育密度为0.5个/mL。     

基于人为调控盐度的促进大叶藻种子萌发及建苗技术研究

Vast declines in Zostera marina seagrass beds demand effective methods of rehabilitation. In this study, we developed a practical method by reducing salinity to induce seed germination followed with recovering salinity to facilitate seedling production of Z. marina. The results showed that Z. marina seeds collected from natural seawater(salinity 30) were induced to germinate at reduced salinities. Percent germination(GR) was higher and mean-time-to-germinate(MTG) was shorter at lower salinities. The highest GR and shortest MTG occurred at salinity 0(deionized freshwater). After germination in freshwater, seeds could develop into seedlings at salinities5–30 and continue the growth. Viability or development of germinated seeds was not significantly different during the 40 d of post-germination incubation at salinities 5–15 after 1–20 d of germination in freshwater. However,during the process of translating germinated seeds from salinity 0 and 5 to salinity 30, reducing the gradients of post-germination acclimation facilitated more seeds forming seedlings in less time. On average, after 60 d of static incubation, including 20 d in freshwater for germination followed with immediate shift to salinity 5 and increasing to salinity 30 at increment of 5 every two days until cultivation at constant salinity 30, 33% of Z. marina seeds produced healthy seedlings. The results indicate that the salinity-manipulation based method of artificial germination and seedling production is practical and effective in supporting rehabilitation of Z. marina bed.     

盐度突变对半滑舌鳎血浆渗透压和鳃丝Na+/K+-ATP酶活性的影响

研究了半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis)由盐度30突变至0、1O、20、35和40盐度后血浆渗透压和鳃丝Na+/K+-ATP酶活性的变化.结果表明,盐度对半滑舌鳎血液渗透压和鳃丝Na+/K+-ATP酶活性均有显著影响(P＜0.05).盐度突变后,各处理组的血液渗透压和鳃丝Na+/K+-ATP酶活性...     

温度、盐度和两种麻醉剂对大泷六线鱼幼鱼耗氧率、排氨率的影响

采用静水呼吸室法,研究了温度、盐度和两种麻醉剂(丁香油、MS-222)对体质量为(6.44±0.59)g的大泷六线鱼幼鱼耗氧率和排氨率的影响。实验分别设置了5个温度梯度(8℃、12℃、16℃、20℃、24℃),5个盐度梯度(15‰、20‰、25‰、30‰、35‰),6个丁香油浓度梯度(0、8、16、24、32、40 mg/L)和5个MS-222浓度梯度(0、10、20、30、40 mg/L)。结果显示,温度、盐度和两种麻醉剂均对耗氧率和排氨率有显著性影响。8℃时,耗氧率和排氨率最低,随温度升高先升高后降低,且均在20℃时达到峰值;盐度30‰时,耗氧率和排氨率最低,盐度升高或降低都会导致耗氧率和排氨率升高;丁香油和MS-222均能有效降低大泷六线鱼的耗氧率和排氨率,其中丁香油的降低效果更为明显;丁香油浓度为24 mg/L时或MS-222为20 mg/L时可使大泷六线鱼处于深度镇定期,结合耗氧率及排氨率变化,认为上述浓度是大泷六线鱼幼鱼保活运输的最佳浓度;本研究所有处理组的O∶N比值范围均在14.77~24.11之间,表明适宜温度和盐度条件下,大泷六线鱼幼鱼主要由蛋白质和脂肪提供能量。研究认为,适度降温、自然盐度和适宜浓度的麻醉剂处理均可显著降低大泷六线鱼幼鱼的呼吸代谢强度,其中丁香油相比MS-222作用效果更加明显。本研究结果为实现大泷六线鱼高质量运输提供了科学参考。     

Salinity tolerance of northern Brazilian mangrove crab larvae, Ucides cordatus (Ocypodidae): Necessity for larval export?

The life cycle of the semiterrestrial mangrove crab Ucides cordatus includes pelagic larvae that are released into estuarine waters during the wet season and who may thus encounter potentially stressful low and variable salinity conditions. The effect of salinity on the survival of the zoea larvae, the number of zoeal stages and the duration of development from hatching to megalopa was experimentally studied by rearing larvae from the Caeté estuary, Northern Brazil, in seven salinity treatments (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30). For a better interpretation of the laboratory results, estuarine salinities were measured over five consecutive years during the species' reproductive season. The survival of the zoea larvae varied significantly with salinity, while the number of stages and the duration of their development remained constant. Development to megalopa took 20.77 ± 1.57 days and comprised five zoeal stages with ZI and ZII being euryhaline and later stages stenohaline. The newly hatched larvae stayed alive for up to 6 days in freshwater (average 4.32 ± 0.82 days), but did not moult to the second zoeal stage. ZII larvae first occurred from salinity 5 onwards and later zoeal stages at all tested salinities ≥10. However, the larvae only survived to megalopa at salinities ≥15, with highest numbers at salinity 30 (72%) and lowest at 15 (16%). Lethal salinities ≤10 occurred frequently in the estuary during the reproductive season. This suggests a need for larval export to offshore and thus more saline waters to allow for significant larval survival and maintenance of viable populations of this commercially important species. A regional rather than local approach for management is suggested due to the likelihood of long distance larval dispersal by offshore currents.     

低盐在短时间内对绿潮浒苔(Ulva prolifera)氮磷吸收的动态影响

我国黄海出现的绿潮发源于黄海南部苏北辐射沙洲紫菜养殖区,苏北沙洲区濒临的沿岸河网众多,来自沿岸径流的淡水携带大量氮磷等营养盐间歇性入海,导致海水的富营养化并伴随着盐度的周期性波动。本研究通过模拟实验研究低盐度(15和5)对浒苔吸收氮盐(NO_3~–-N和NH_4~+-N)和磷盐(PO_4~(3–)-P)的影响,主要发现:与盐度30相比,在低盐度(15和5)时,浒苔对NO_3~–-N的1h最大吸收速率(V_(max))和亲和力(V_(max)/Ks)分别提高280%和350%左右,半饱和常数(Ks)下降15%左右,并能够维持对NO_3~–-N的高效吸收(24h);盐度15和5时,浒苔对NH_4~+-N的1h最大吸收速率(V_(max))分别提高40%和200%,亲和力(V_(max)/Ks)分别提高20%和180%, Ks分别提高15%和30%,但是盐度降低对NH_4~+-N的长效吸收产生负面影响,甚至在盐度5条件下出现吸收高浓度NH_4~+-N后再释放的现象;与盐度30相似,盐度15条件下浒苔能够快速吸收PO_4~(3–)-P,而盐度5则导致藻细胞内的PO_4~(3–)-P在早期阶段快速流失,并在后期不能有效吸收PO_4~(3–)-P。本实验的结果表明,降低盐度有利于浒苔对氮源的快速吸收,在盐度15下浒苔能够实现对硝酸盐和磷盐的高效吸收。     

急性盐度胁迫对卵形鲳鲹幼鱼Na~+-K~+-ATP酶活性和渗透压的影响

研究了水环境急性盐度胁迫对卵形鲳鲹(Trachinotus ovatus)幼鱼鳃Na+-K+-ATP(NKA)酶活力,血清、鳃丝和肾脏渗透压的影响.结果表明:将幼鱼从盐度30(对照)中直接转移至盐度5、10、15、20、25、35水体中,96 h后无死亡.各盐度处理组的鳃NKA酶活性和血清渗透压在最初72 h内出现一定波动,随后变化平稳.试验结束时(96 h),NKA活性随盐度梯度呈"U"型分布,盐度35处理的酶活高于其他处理,盐度20处理活性最低.各处理的血清渗透压大小在96 h时,随着盐度的变化,以盐度15、20为中心,呈对称变化,在盐度20后随盐度上升呈先上升后下降的趋势.相同盐度的鳃渗透压随时间变化呈先上升后下降逐渐稳定的趋势.肾渗透压除盐度5、10处理外,其他盐度组随时间没有显著变化,维持一定的稳定性.说明卵形鲳鲹幼鱼在生理上具有广盐性鱼类的"高渗环境高NKA活性"特征,有较强的渗透压调节与平衡能力.     

Seasonal variance of salinity tolerance of a copepod Drepanopus bispinosus in an Antarctic littoral saline lake (Burton Lake)

In Burton Lake (an Antarctic littoral saline lake), as one of the overwinter species, the female Drepanopus bispinosus reach adult form in autumn. and early winter.For the subsequent life period of more than eight months, the animals experience such changing environment as increasing salinities from approximately 33 (in May) to 39 (in November). There is a considerable difference of salinity tolerance of female adults between summer and winter populations.Winter collected copepods survived lower salinities than summer collected copepods in this experiment. The upward shift in their salinity tolerance range is related to the development of field acclimation to salinity. Respiration rates of the summer animals showed a visible increase over those of winter copepods in simitar salinity and temperature conditions, thus supporting the above conclusion.     

长江口及其邻近海区主要经济虾类的生态研究

本文主要取材于1985—1986年长江口渔业资源试捕调查资料。研究结果表明,分布在长江口海区的虾类,由于受长江冲淡水径流的影响,形成三种生态型:(1)河口半咸水类型,如两种白虾;(2)低盐水类型,如葛氏长臂虾;(3)外侧次高盐水类型,如鹰爪虾和两种仿对虾。代表各生态型虾类,一般具有繁殖期较长的特点,其生命周期可为一年或一年多。虾类体长分布较为复杂,在当年生的幼虾生长期间,秋冬季虾群中常有幼虾和成虾混栖。因而,种群体长分布有两组群体并存。     

盐度对中国鲎幼鲎生长、蜕壳、Na+-K+-ATP酶活性、免疫指标和抗氧化能力的影响

人工增殖放流是恢复鲎资源最有效、最迅速的方法, 而了解和掌握环境因子对中国鲎(Tachypleus tridentatus)幼鲎生长状况的影响规律, 进而选择适宜放流的时间和海区, 是保证人工放流得以成功的关键。本文在实验室条件下, 研究了不同盐度(5‰、10‰、15‰、20‰、25‰、30‰、35‰、40‰)对中国鲎幼鲎成活率、蜕壳率、蜕壳增重率、Na⁺-K⁺-ATP酶活性、免疫酶活性、抗氧化酶活性等的影响, 探讨了不同盐度水平下中国鲎幼鲎生长、蜕壳、渗透调节能力、机体免疫力和抗氧化能力等的变化。养殖试验持续56d, 结果表明: 不同盐度对中国鲎幼鲎的成活率、蜕壳率、二龄幼鲎均重及蜕壳增重率均有显著影响(P<0.05), 且均随盐度升高呈先升高后降低的趋势; 蜕壳率和蜕壳增重率与盐度的回归分析均表明, 中国鲎幼鲎蜕壳与生长的最适盐度分别为24.10‰和24.94‰; 一龄和二龄幼鲎的Na⁺-K⁺-ATP酶活性均随盐度的升高呈先显著升高后显著降低趋势(P<0.05); 35‰和40‰盐度试验组一龄幼鲎的酸性磷酸酶(acid phosphatase, ACP)活性显著高于其他试验组, 而5‰盐度试验组一龄幼鲎的碱性磷酸酶(alkaline phosphatase, AKP)活性显著低于25‰试验组(P<0.05) ; 盐度对二龄幼鲎的ACP、AKP和溶菌酶(lysozyme, LZM)活性均没有显著影响(P>0.05); 35‰和40‰试验组一龄幼鲎的过氧化氢酶(catalase, CAT)活性显著高于盐度较低试验组(P<0.05); 二龄幼鲎的谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(glutathione peroxidase)活性随着盐度的升高而升高, 盐度10‰试验组显著低于30‰和40‰试验组(P<0.05)。研究结果显示盐度对中国鲎幼鲎生长、蜕壳、Na⁺-K⁺-ATP酶活性、免疫指标和抗氧化能力均有显著影响, 蜕壳最适宜的盐度在24‰~25‰左右, 盐度过高或过低都将引起幼鲎生长率和成活率降低, 渗透调节能力、免疫力和抗氧化力显著下降。     

Reproductive ecology of the dominant dinoflagellate, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ceratium fusus</Emphasis>, in coastal area of Sagami Bay,Japan

The seasonal abundance of the dominant dinoflagellate, Ceratium fusus, was investigated from January 2000 to December 2003 in a coastal region of Sagami Bay, Japan. The growth of this species was also examined under laboratory conditions. In Sagami Bay, C. fusus increased significantly from April to September, and decreased from November to February, though it was found at all times through out the observation period. C. fusus increased markedly in September 2001 and August 2003 after heavy rainfalls that produced pycnoclines. Rapid growth was observed over a salinity range of 24 to 30, with the highest specific rate of 0.59 d⁻¹ measured under the following conditions: salinity 27, temperature 24°C, photon irradiance 600 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹. The growth rate of C. fusus increased with increasing irradiance from 58 to 216 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹, plateauing between 216 and 796 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹ under all temperature and salinity treatments (except at a temperature of 12°C). Both field and laboratory experiments indicated that C. fusus has the ability to grow under wide ranges of water temperatures (14–28°C), salinities (20–34), and photon irradiance (50–800 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹); it is also able to grow at low nutrient concentrations. This physiological flexibility ensures that populations persist when bloom conditions come to an end.     

脊尾白虾(Exopalaemon carinicauda)ferritin 基因克隆及表达分析

采用RT-PCR及RACE技术获得了总长度为755bp的脊尾白虾ferritin基因cDNA序列。该基因序列5’和3’的非编码区分别为112bp和146bp,开放阅读框497bp,推测编码169个氨基酸,预测蛋白分子量19.1kDa,等电点5.46,该基因命名为Ecfer基因。利用Neighbor-joining法构建系统进化树分析结果表明,Ecfer基因氨基酸序列与无脊椎动物中的甲壳动物聚为一支(同源性为64%—67%)。此外,Ecfer基因氨基酸序列与脊椎动物铁蛋白H链同源性为53%—57%。采用荧光定量RT-PCR研究Ecfer基因在组织中以及经WSSV刺激后血淋巴、肝胰腺中的表达变化情况。研究结果表明,Ecfer在肝胰腺、卵巢、肌肉、鳃和血淋巴中均有分布。注射WSSV后3h和6h,肝胰腺和血淋巴Ecfer基因表达较对照组均显著上调(P<0.05),并具有显著的时间差异性。说明Ecfer基因可能参与了脊尾白虾抵抗WSSV入侵的免疫反应。     

盐度对日本鳗鲡生长及非特异性免疫酶活性的影响

利用实验生态学和酶学方法,在浙江省海洋水产养殖研究所清江试验场研究了盐度对平均体长为25．1±5．6cm的日本鳗鲡（Anguillajaponica）生长及其血清溶茵酶（LZM）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）及碱性磷酸酶（AKP）活性的影响,实验持续60d．实验设置了5个盐度梯度（盐度5、10、15、20、25）和对照组（盐度0）,每梯度设3个平行组,各组盐度和pH值保持一致．日本鳗鲡血清中免疫酶活力指标：碱性磷酸酶、溶茵酶、超氧化物歧化酶在实验的第7天和第14天测定．实验结果表明,盐度5组相对增重率最高（279．78％±28．37％）,其次是盐度10组（278．74％±22．25％）,盐度15、20、25组相对增重率分别为234．39％±21．28％、230．28％±26．31％、228．01％±29．29％．对照组相对增重率为233．20％-4-25．18％,盐度5和10组与对照组差异显著（P〈0．05）,其余各组与对照组差异不显著．第7天和第14天,盐度10组碱性磷酸酶活性最高,分别为225．05U／dm。和251．11U／dm’,其次是盐度5组,分别为221．76U／dm。和236．01U／dm。,显著高于对照组（P〈0．05）．第7天和第14天盐度20、25组溶菌酶活性显著高于对照组（P〈0．01）．超氧化物歧化酶随着盐度的升高呈逐步上升趋势．第14天,盐度20、25纽溶菌酶活性仍保持较高水平,SOD回落至对照组水平,而各组AKP较第7天略有上升．     

盐度对大叶藻种子萌发和幼苗发育的影响

大叶藻海草场是重要生境但在我国严重退化,亟需研究有效的修复方法。本文以桑沟湾的大叶藻种子为研究对象,探讨了盐度急变(0~30)对种子萌发、萌发后继续发育和存活及幼苗幼叶的光合与呼吸速率的影响,为以种子繁殖修复大叶藻海草场提供参考。结果表明:盐度降低促进种子萌发,盐度15及以下效果显著,盐度0时萌发率最高;盐度0~15中萌发的种子均可发育成幼苗,发育和衰亡的比例和速率受萌发盐度背景和萌发后培养盐度的双重影响——较高萌发盐度有利于种子萌发后的发育和存活,种子萌发后于盐度5~30中均可建成幼苗并存活、但在盐度0或1中发育至不同程度后全部死亡。盐度5~30范围内,幼苗幼叶均有净产氧,光合和呼吸作用及净产氧率具随盐度升高而增强趋势。于盐度0或5中萌发、盐度5~30中进一步培育的变盐育苗策略,最高实现了24%或12%的种子于2个月内建成幼苗并继续发育,可作为种子繁殖法修复大叶藻海草场的技术参考。     

盐度对菲律宾蛤仔摄食率和清滤率的影响

实验室条件下,对15、20、25、30和35五个盐度梯度下菲律宾蛤仔(Ruditapes philippinarum)的摄食率RI和清滤率RC进行了测定。结果表明,在15~25的盐度条件下,蛤仔的摄食率RI和清滤率RC随着盐度的升高而增大,在25时达到最大值,而在25~35盐度条件下,随盐度的增加而减小。     

The effect of salinity on clearance rate in the suspension-feeding estuarine gastropod Crepipatella dilatata under natural and controlled conditions

The suspension-feeding gastropod Crepipatella dilatata occurs in estuaries in southern Chile that experience considerable fluctuations in salinity, driven by tidal and atmospheric forces. In the Quempillén estuary salinities as low as 9 psu may occur after severe rainstorms, and persist for several hours. In this study salinity was the major factor influencing the clearance rate of C. dilatata. At salinities below 20 psu, filtration ceased, whereas at high salinities (>22 psu) mean clearance rate was 0.24 l h⁻¹ standard animal⁻¹ (S.D. 0.18) for actively filtering individuals. This was confirmed by laboratory experiments under controlled conditions. Endoscopic observations were consistent with measurements of clearance rate, and showed that at salinity 25–30 psu the rate of transport along the gill filaments of particulate material embedded in mucus was 759 μm s⁻¹ (S.D. 480), but particle transport ceased at and below salinity 20 psu. Complete or partial isolation of the mantle cavity from the environment may be a mechanism to protect soft tissues and/or incubated egg capsules from osmotic stress.