Haemolymph protein concentrations in portunid crabs—II. The effects of imposed fasting on Carcinus maenas

Abstract

1. 1. Weekly changes in the levels of serum total protein, “fast” and “slow” haemocyanin and apohaemocyanin were measured in fed and in starved Carcinus maenas. 2. 2. The degree of individual variation of concentrations of all protein components, except “fast” haemocyanin, was sufficient to mask important changes incurred as a result of reduced food intake. 3. 3. Starved animals lost proportionately more of each protein, except apohaemocyanin, than the fed animals and both fed and starved animals progressively lost apohaemocyanin throughout the experiment. 4. 4. The implications of these findings in the light of haemocyanin metabolism has been discussed.