Abstract
The effects of external salinity on water and electrolyte balance in leptocephalous larvae of the bonefish ( Albula) were studied during the period of metamorphosis. Although leptocephali lose most of their body water and NaCl content during metamorphosis, both dilute (8%. S) and concentrated (48%. S) sea water had little or no effect on this loss when compared to the control salinity (35%.). Whole-body water, Na + and Cl − values were similar in the three salinities throughout the 8-day experimental period. Rates of metamorphosis were also similar. Variations in external salinity had little effect on the ability of metamorphosing leptocephali to conserve K +, although mean K + content was slightly higher in 35%. S than in 8 and 48%. S. Estimates of osmotic concentration of larval body fluids showed similar values in both dilute and control sea water (425 and 423 mOsm · kg −1, respectively). It is suggested that degradation of sulfated glycosaminoglycans in the larval gelatinous matrix may account for the salinity-independent water and NaCl loss during metamorphosis.
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