Salinity and Survival of Martesia striata (linn) in Cochin Harbour

Abstract

The effects of salinity vanatwns on the survival of M artesia striata from
Cochin Harbour are presented. It is observed that at least a few of the animals
survive the low saline conditions during monsoon. Laboratory experiments
showed the lethal salinity as 6 ~~o when animals acclimatised in 34 %o were
subjected to abrupt changes in salinity. But acclimatisation to 17 %o salinity showed a downward shift in the lethal salinity to 4%0• The present observations indicatethat M. striata is euryhaline arid the extent of tolerance to lower salinities depends on the degree of acclimatisation