Physiological responses of the southern king crab, Lithodes santolla (Decapoda: Lithodidae), to aerial exposure

摘要: The recent demand for live seafood has made Lithodes santolla a potential candidate the crab market. Since transport implies long aerial exposure times, present study determined tolerance of L. to and also explored physiological status after six different times: 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 50h. No mortalities were recorded during emersion periods shorter than h, however, all hemolymph parameters modulated by exposure. Hemolymph dissolved oxygen pH inversely related with time (-0.016 mg L(-1) h(-1) -0.018 h(-1), respectively), while oxyhemocyanin protein positively correlated (0.006 mmol 0.487 mL(-1) respectively). Oxygen consumption at re-immersion was affected time, low values in animals emersed longer 30 h. We postulate that unexpected high is mainly adaptations hypoxia, developed overcome hypoxic events their natural environment deep water. findings are not only important understanding santolla's physiology, but provide first evaluation marketing southern king as seafood.