Physiologische Anpassungen an Salzstandorte bei Land- und Wassertieren des Binnenlandes

Abstract

Haline inland biotops show much greater instability in nearly all factors compared with marine or brackish habitats. Physiological adaptation is vital, as an impermeable membrance can only reduce osmotical stress. Exchange of water and ions takes place either in form of diffusion or as active transport. While diffusion is dependent on a positive gradient, active transport is mostly restricted to certain cells or epithelia and works against the concentration gradient. The concentration of the medium determines the size of active epithelia. Ionic composition of the medium is the second important factor in addition to concentration. All biological functions are influenced by this two dominants. Landarthropodes are seemingly less influenced by salt in the environment, complicated behavior helps to avoid salt or the animals accept the haline biotopes for other, secondary reasons. Further investigations are necessary.