Abstract
Specimens of the West African blood clam Anadara senilis were exposed to both sinusoidal and abrupt salinity regimes. Measurements showed that haemolymph osmolality and concentrations of Na, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ followed the concentrations of the external medium up to the time of shell valve closure. Shell valves closed when the seawater concentration had fallen to about 15.4% S and reopened at a similar salinity. The closure mechanism was effective in preventing excessive haemolymph dilution.
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Communicated by J. Mauchline, Oban
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Djangmah, J.S., Shumway, S.E. & Davenport, J. Effects of fluctuating salinity on the behaviour of the West African blood clam Anadara senilis and on the osmotic pressure and lonic concentrations of the haemolymph. Mar. Biol. 50, 209–213 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394202
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394202