Effect of sudden reduction of sea water salinity (Srws) on two molluscan species using a kinetic model

Abstract

Groups of ten of two molluscan species; Pinctada radiata from the Red sea and Tapes descussata from the Mediterranean sea were each exposed separately to eleven graded levels of sudden reduction in their water salinity (SRWS) by adding graduate levels of fresh water to test the validity of saturation kinetic model. The rate of mortality was found to be a function of the level of SR WS. This relationship was found to fit a saturation kinetic model which is based on the enzyme kinetic equation and can be used to describe and predict the effect of SRWS on the rate of mortality for either species under the experimental conditions. © GSP, India.