Physiological responses of Daphnia pulex to acid stress.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Acidity exerts a determining influence on the composition and diversity of freshwater faunas. While the physiological implications of freshwater acidification have been intensively studied in teleost fish and crayfish, much less is known about the acid-stress physiology of ecologically important groups such as cladoceran zooplankton. This study analyzed the extracellular acid-base state and CO2 partial pressure (P(CO2)), circulation and ventilation, as well as the respiration rate of Daphnia pulex acclimated to acidic (pH 5.5 and 6.0) and circumneutral (pH 7.8) conditions.

Results

D. pulex had a remarkably high extracellular pH of 8.33 and extracellular P(CO2) of 0.56 kPa under normal ambient conditions (pH 7.8 and normocapnia). The hemolymph had a high bicarbonat

SUBMITTER: Weber AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2689847 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature