Salinity tolerance of adult and juvenile red king crabs Paralithodes camtschatica

Abstract

1. 1. Juvenile king crabs were more tolerant of reduced salinities than adult crab; juvenile crab were better volume regulators at reduced salinities than adult crab. 2. 2. Adult female king crab hemolymph was hyperosmotic to full seawater (30 ppt) and isosmotic to dilute seawater. Juvenile king crab (2 years old) were hypoosmotic at the same concentrations. 3. 3. Lower osmotic concentration of juvenile hemolymph is at least partially due to lower sodium concentration. 4. 4. Juvenile king crab can tolerate some dilution and survive for short periods in the reduced salinity of the lower intertidal zone.