The effect of prolonged starvation on blood chemistry of horseshoe crab, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (Chelicerata: Xiphosura)

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of prolonged starvation on oxygen consumption, ammonia-N excretion, and blood chemistry of the horseshoe crab, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda. Starvation over a period of 7 weeks showed no significant difference of body weight between the starved and fed groups. The oxygen consumption rate decreased during weeks 1-4 and then significantly increased after week 6 of starvation. Starvation also resulted in a significant increase in ammonia-N rate from week 3 to 7. The O:N ratios were significantly reduced in the starved group from week 3 to 7. Starving induced the reduction of hemolymph osmolality from week 5. Hemolymph Na+ and Cl‾ of the starved group decreased from week 4 for Na+ and from week 3 to 7 for Cl‾, while hemolymph K+ increased from week 4 to 7. Hemolymph K+ of both groups was hyperionic during the experiment. Thus, horseshoe crab can survive starvation for more than 7 weeks.

Keywords

• horseshoe crab
• starvation
• metabolism
• osmoregulation