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Comparative physiological responses to increasing ambient salinity levels in Procambarus clarkii (Girard) and Orconectes lancifer (Hagen)
Green CC, Gautreaux KM, Pérez Pérez RA and Lutz CG 
Published Online: 12/31/2011
Abstract
Procambarus clarkii (Girard) is adapted to natural cycles of flooding and drought, but it is also commonly found in permanent habitats. Orconectes lancifer (Hagen) typically inhabits slow streams, oxbows, and lowland rivers with muddy or silty bottoms. In Louisiana, these two species overlap across much of their present ranges, and O. lancifer is being evaluated as an alternative species for aquaculture. We examined the cumulative mortality and physiological responses of P. clarkii and O. lancifer juveniles subjected to increasing salinity in daily increments of approximately 1 g L-1. Measurements of hemolymph total osmolality and concentrations of chloride, calcium and sodium (as mg dL-1) were determined daily for crayfish exposed to salinities from 0 to 25 g L-1. Procambarus clarkii was more tolerant of increasing salinity, with superior osmoregulatory capacity at intermediate and higher salinities. No significant differences were detected in concentrations of sodium, calcium and chloride between species; however, both species demonstrated the same significant linear trends in increasing sodium and chloride ion concentrations. Mean lethal salinity for O. lancifer and P. clarkii was 12.6 + 1.5 and 17.0 + 4.0 g L-1, respectively, with a number of P. clarkii able to survive at salinities above 18 g L-1 while O. lancifer was not. This work provided baseline salinity tolerance data for the species in question, and allowed refinement of protocols for further physiological studies with crayfishes found in coastal watersheds.
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How to Cite
Green CC, Gautreaux KM, Pérez Pérez RA and Lutz CG. (2011). Comparative physiological responses to increasing ambient salinity levels in Procambarus clarkii (Girard) and Orconectes lancifer (Hagen). Freshwater Crayfish 18(1):87-92. doi: 10.5869/fc.2011.v18.87
Author Information
Christopher Green,* Aquaculture Research Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, 2410 Ben Hur Rd., Baton Rouge, LA, USA70820. E-mail: cgreen@agcenter.lsu.edu
Katherine Gautreaux, Aquaculture Research Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, 2410 Ben Hur Rd, Baton Rouge, LA, USA70820. E-mail: kgautreaux@gmail.com
Rosa A. Perez Perez, Division Academica de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Juarez Autonoma de Tabasco, Laboratorio de Acuacultura, Carretera Villahermosa-Cardenas Km 0.5,Villahermosa, Tabasco, MexicoCP 86000. E-mail: aurora_pzpz@hotmail.com
Charles G. Lutz, Aquaculture Research Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, 2410 Ben Hur Rd , Baton Rouge, LA, USA70820. E-mail: glutz@agcenter.lsu.edu
Corresponding Author indicated by an *.
Publication History
Manuscript Submitted: 12/10/2010
Manuscript Accepted: 8/15/2011
Published Online: 12/31/2011
Published in Print: 12/31/2011
Funding Information
No specific funding statement is available for this article.