Dilution of Seawater Affects the Ca Transport in the Outer Mantle Epithelium of .

Varying salinities of coastal waters are likely to affect the physiology and ion transport capabilities of calcifying marine organisms such as bivalves. To investigate the physiological effect of decreased environmental salinity in bivalves, adult oysters () were exposed for 14 days to 50% seawater (14) and the effects on mantle ion transport, electrophysiology and the expression of Ca transporters and channels relative to animals maintained in full strength sea water (28) was evaluated. Exposure of oysters to a salinity of 14 decreased the active mantle transepithelial ion transport and specifically affected Ca transfer. Gene expression of the Na/K-ATPase and the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase was decreased whereas the expression of the T-type voltage-gated Ca channel and the Na/Ca-exchanger increased compared to animals maintained in full SW. The results indicate that decreased environmental salinities will most likely affect not only osmoregulation but also bivalve biomineralization and shell formation.