The adaptation of Arenicola marina to sulphide solutions
Groenendaal, M.M. (1981). The adaptation of Arenicola marina to sulphide solutions. Neth. J. Sea Res. 15(1): 65-77
In: Netherlands Journal of Sea Research. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ): Groningen; Den Burg. ISSN 0077-7579; e-ISSN 1873-1406, more
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| Abstract |
The physiological adaptation of the lugworm, Arenicola marina, to cope with the sulphide levels in its environment was studied. Sulphide easily penetrates into coelomic fluid, blood, gut content, and tissues until an equilibrium is reached after ca 8 hours. The internal concentrations of sulphide, however, never reach the external values when pH is above 7. When the external pH is 7.7, an internal concentration is maintained that is about half that in the environment. A pH value of the coelomic fluid maintained at 0.2 units lower than that of the medium can sufficiently explain the lowered inner equilibrium values. Inside the worm the relative concentrations of H2S, which is a much more permeable sulphide component that the other sulphide species present (HS- and S2-) increases, and the rapid outflow o fH2S causes a lower total inner sulphide concentration. During anaerobiosis nu fundamental chemical changes of sulphide occur. Obviously no active transport or fixation of sulphide takes place in the lugworm. The observed regulation of pH has, even so, not to be considered as a special adaptation. |
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