First published online September 19, 2006
Journal of Experimental Biology 209, 3766-3776 (2006)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2006
doi: 10.1242/jeb.02441
Feeding and digestion in low salinity in an osmoconforming crab, Cancer gracilis I. Cardiovascular and respiratory responses
Iain J. McGaw
School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
89154-4004, USA and Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Bamfield, British
Columbia, VOR 1BO, Canada

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Fig. 1. Cardiovascular parameters of Cancer gracilis (N=10). (A)
Heart rate (beats min-1), (B) stroke volume (ml beat-1),
(C) cardiac output (ml min-1) and haemolymph flow rates (ml
min-1) through the (D) anterior aorta, (E) left anterolateral
artery, (F) right hepatic artery, (G) posterior aorta and (H) sternal artery.
Crabs were monitored during a 3 h control period in 100%SW, food was
administered and cardiac parameters followed for a further 12 h in seawater.
Values are means ± s.e.m. The beginning of the feeding periods are
marked. In certain cases error bars are small and do not show clearly on
figures.
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Fig. 2. (A) Ventilation rates (beats min-1) and (B) oxygen uptake rates
(mg O2 kg-1 h-1) of 10 Cancer
gracilis monitored for a 3 h period in 100% seawater; food was
administered and changes in respiratory variables were subsequently followed.
Values represent means ± s.e.m.
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Fig. 3. Cardiovascular parameters (mean ± s.e.m.) of 10 Cancer
gracilis. (A) Heart rate (beats min-1), (B) stroke volume (ml
beat-1), (C) cardiac output (ml min-1) and haemolymph
flow rates (ml min-1) through the (D) anterior aorta, (E) left
anterolateral artery, (F) right hepatic artery, (G) posterior aorta and (H)
sternal artery. Crabs were monitored during a 3 h control period in 100%SW,
low salinity conditions (65%SW) were initiated for 6 h. Control conditions
were then restored for an additional 6 h. The beginning of the low salinity
and 100%SW periods are marked. In certain cases error bars are small and do
not show clearly on figures.
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Fig. 4. (A) Ventilation rates (beats min-1) and (B) oxygen uptake rates
(mg O2 kg-1 h-1) of 10 Cancer
gracilis monitored for a 3 h period in 100% seawater; low salinity
conditions were then initiated for 6 h, following this seawater conditions
were restored for an additional 6 h. Values represent means ±
s.e.m.
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Fig. 5. (A) Heart rate (beats min-1), (B) stroke volume (ml
beat-1), (C) cardiac output (ml min-1) and haemolymph
flow rates (ml min-1) through the (D) anterior aorta, (E)
left anterolateral artery, (F) right hepatic artery, (G) posterior aorta and
(H) sternal artery of 10 Cancer gracilis. Crabs were monitored during
a 3 h control period in 100%SW, food was administered and cardiac parameters
followed for a further 3 h in seawater, after which low salinity conditions
(65%SW) were initiated for 6 h. Control conditions were then restored for an
additional 6 h. Values are means ± s.e.m. The beginning of the feeding,
low salinity and 100%SW periods are marked. In certain cases error bars are
small and do not show clearly on figures.
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View larger version (21K):
[in a new window]
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Fig. 6. (A) Ventilation rates (beats min-1) and (B) oxygen uptake rates
(mg O2 kg-1 h-1) of 10 Cancer
gracilis monitored for a 3 h period in 100% seawater; food was
administered and cardiac parameters followed for a further 3 h in seawater
before low salinity conditions were initiated for 6 h. Seawater conditions
were then restored for an additional 6 h. Values represent means ±
s.e.m.
|
|

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Fig. 7. (A) Heart rate (beats min-1), (B) stroke volume (ml
beat-1), (C) cardiac output (ml min-1) and haemolymph
flow rates (ml min-1) through the (D) anterior aorta, (E) left
anterolateral artery, (F) right hepatic artery, (G) posterior aorta and (H)
sternal artery of 10 Cancer gracilis. Crabs that had been fed 21 h
previously were monitored during a 3 h control period in 100%SW; low salinity
conditions (65%SW) were then initiated for 6 h, after which control conditions
were restored for an additional 6 h. Values are means ± s.e.m. The
beginning of the low salinity and 100%SW periods are marked. In certain cases
error bars are small and do not show clearly on figures.
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|

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[in a new window]
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Fig. 8. (A) Ventilation rates (beats min-1) and (B) oxygen uptake rates
(mg O2 kg-1 h-1) of 10 Cancer
gracilis that had been fed 21 h previously were monitored for a 3 h
period in 100% seawater, before low salinity conditions were initiated for 6
h. Seawater conditions were then restored for an additional 6 h. Values
represent means ± s.e.m.
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© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2006