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Copper and zinc handling during the moult cycle of male and female shore crabs Carcinus maenas

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Abstract

Tissue concentrations and contents of copper and zinc were determined at 11 different stages of the moult cycle in male and female shore crabs Carcinus maenas. Metal concentrations in haemolymph, gills, midgut gland, muscle, and exoskeleton of males and haemolymph, gills, and midgut gland of females were determined, as were haemocyanin concentrations and haemolymph volumes (using 14C-inulin) in males. The changes in tissue Cu and Zn concentrations and contents that occur throughout the moult cycle can be attributed to muscle breakdown in late premoult, the period of starvation in late premoult and early postmoult, the resorption from and shedding of the old exoskeleton, and the dilution of the haemolymph caused by water uptake around the time of ecdysis. The present study demonstrates that whole-body Cu and Zn contents remain constant during a large part of the moult cycle of male and female C. maenas. This state of whole-body trace metal homeostasis is maintained in spite of major changes in tissue proportions and tissue Cu and Zn concentrations and contents. Previous studies have not carried out the necessary analysis to move from theoretical estimates to quantitative determination of the changes in tissue metal distribution associated with moulting in crustaceans; the data presented illustrate the necessity of measuring both tissue concentrations and contents of metals to avoid misinterpretation of either.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Vibeke Eriksen for technical assistance. This work was supported by grants from the Danish National Science Research Council.

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  1. Institute of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark

    U. Nørum, M. Bondgaard & P. Bjerregaard

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  1. U. Nørum
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  2. M. Bondgaard
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  3. P. Bjerregaard
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Correspondence to U. Nørum.

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Communicated by L. Hagerman, Helsingør

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Nørum, U., Bondgaard, M. & Bjerregaard, P. Copper and zinc handling during the moult cycle of male and female shore crabs Carcinus maenas . Marine Biology 142, 757–769 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-002-1003-6

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