The Composition of the Blood of the Shore Crab, Carcinus Moenas (Pennant), in Relation to Sex and Body Size

Abstract

1. The influence of sex and body weight on the concentration of the non-protein nitrogen (N.P.N.) in the blood of Carcinus moenas was investigated. 2. Blood N.P.N. decreased with body size in both sexes until a minimum was reached at a body weight of about 35 g. Thereafter it increased with increasing body weight. 3. For body weights less than 35 g. males had higher N.P.N. values than females; above this weight male values were lower. Statistically these differences were highly significant. 4. Frequency distribution of reproductive activity with body size showed peaks which correspond with those for total ionic concentration (Gilbert, 1959a, b) and with the troughs for N.P.N. 5. Results of the present work have been discussed in relation to those reported earlier for conductivity, total O.P., chloride and sulphate (Gilbert, 1959a, b).