Behavioural effects of hypersaline exposure on the lobster Homarus gammarus (L) and the crab Cancer pagurus (L)

Katie Smyth,Krysia Mazik,Michael Elliott

doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2014.04.016

Katie Smyth, Krysia Mazik + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2014.04.016

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Abstract

There is scarce existing information in the literature regarding the responses of any marine species, especially commercially valuable decapod crustaceans, to hypersalinity. Hypersaline discharges due to solute mining and desalination are increasing in temperate areas, hence the behavioural responses of the edible brown crab, Cancer pagurus, and the European lobster, Homarus gammarus, were studied in relation to a marine discharge of highly saline brine using a series of preference tests. Both species had a significant behavioural response to highly saline brine, being able to detect and avoid areas of hypersalinity once their particular threshold salinity was reached (salinity 50 for C. pagurus and salinity 45 for H. gammarus). The presence of shelters had no effect on this response and both species avoided hypersaline areas, even when shelters were provided there. If the salinity of commercial effluent into the marine environment exceeds the behavioural thresholds found here, it is likely that adults of these species will relocate to areas of more favourable salinity. In management terms it is advisable to ensure that any hypersaline discharges are limited to the lowest tolerance of all the economically valuable species in the area to avoid loss of revenue in fishery areas.

Highlights

Cancer pagurus, the edible brown crab (Linnaeus 1758) and Homarus gammarus, the European lobster (Linnaeus 1758) are both stenohaline, osmoconforming species that are generally subtidal but can occur in the lower intertidal zone
Most existing literature on salinity change in H. gammarus relates to their physiological responses to hyposaline conditions (Charmantier et al, 1984; Lucu and Devesconi, 1999; Pavičić-Hamer et al, 2003) and for C. pagurus there are no such studies
H. gammarus showed a preference for the normal salinity of 35 as the hypersaline option increased from ambient

Summary

Introduction

The edible brown crab (Linnaeus 1758) and Homarus gammarus, the European lobster (Linnaeus 1758) are both stenohaline, osmoconforming species that are generally subtidal but can occur in the lower intertidal zone. Most existing literature on salinity change in H. gammarus relates to their physiological responses to hyposaline conditions (Charmantier et al, 1984; Lucu and Devesconi, 1999; Pavičić-Hamer et al, 2003) and for C. pagurus there are no such studies. Little is known of either species' response to hypersaline challenge. In their natural environments, temperate crustaceans that are generally fully marine in nature rarely, if ever, experience hypersalinity the lack of attention to this subject. A consequence of increasing worldwide demands for fresh water is an increased interest in desalination in all regions — including temperate areas. Desalination plants are principally located in the southern areas of the Northern Hemisphere (e.g. the Middle East and the Americas), where low rainfall limits the availability of fresh water (Raventos et al, 2006). Recent source of hypersalinity in the marine environment is solute mining when creating underground caverns for the storage of natural gas and for carbon sequestration (Bérest et al, 2001; Dusseault et al, 2001; Quintino et al, 2008)

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