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Journal of Experimental Biology 60,331-338 (1974)
Published by Company of Biologists 1974

The Water Balance of a Serpulid Polychaete, Mercierella Enigmatica (Fauvel) : II. Ion Concentration

HELEN LE B. SKAER ¹

¹ Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge; A.R.C. Unit of Invertebrate Chemistry and Physiology, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge

1. Mercierella enigmatica, a serpulid polychaete, lives in water ranging in concentration from fresh water to 150% sea water (< 1-55).

2. The concentrations of five inorganic ions (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Cl^-2) in the blood have been measured both during and after equilibration of the animals with media of altered salinity.

3. The concentrations of calcium and potassium have also been measured in filtrates of the blood from animals equilibrated in three media of differing salinity.

4. Concentrations of all the ions measured vary linearly with the concentration of the external medium. The levels of sodium, calcium (in filtered blood) and chloride are near the isionic line, while those of magnesium and potassium (even in filtered blood) are slightly higher in the blood over the whole range.