The Energetics of Osmotic Regulation in Brackish- and Fresh-Water Animals

Abstract

1. The dynamics of osmoregulation in an ideal semi-permeable animal are discussed. The theoretical minimum osmotic work is evaluated in terms of the surface area of the animal, its permeability and the concentrations of the blood, urine and external medium. 2. It is shown that: (a) The most important means whereby a marine animal entering brackish water can reduce the strain upon its osmoregulatory mechanisms is by reducing the concentration of its blood. (b) In a brackish-water animal the production of urine hypotonic to the blood has only a very small effect upon the osmotic work. (c) In a fresh-water animal the reduction of the urine concentration to the point at which it is isotonic with the medium can reduce the osmotic work by as much as 90%; but even a moderate reduction of the urine concentration, so that the urine is hypotonic to the blood but many times more concentrated than the medium, greatly reduces the osmotic work and is compatible with high osmoregulatory efficiency. 3. These conclusions are discussed with reference to some fresh-water animals.