Saweit Chaimongkon

DOI: 10.14456/sjst-psu.2018.119

pp. 752 - 758

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of prolonged starvation on oxygen consumption, ammonia-N excretion, and blood
chemistry of the horseshoe crab, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda. Starvation over a period of 7 weeks showed no significant
difference of body weight between the starved and fed groups. The oxygen consumption rate decreased during weeks 1-4 and
then significantly increased after week 6 of starvation. Starvation also resulted in a significant increase in ammonia-N rate from
week 3 to 7. The O:N ratios were significantly reduced in the starved group from week 3 to 7. Starving induced the reduction of
hemolymph osmolality from week 5. Hemolymph Na⁺
and Cl‾ of the starved group decreased from week 4 for Na⁺
and from
week 3 to 7 for Cl‾, while hemolymph K⁺
increased from week 4 to 7. Hemolymph K⁺
of both groups was hyperionic during the
experiment. Thus, horseshoe crab can survive starvation for more than 7 weeks.