The Interaction of Environmental Calcium and Low pH on The Physiology of the Rainbow Trout, Salmo Gairdneri

Abstract

Adult rainbow trout, acclimated to external calcium concentrations ranging from 60–5700 μequiv/1, were exposed to pH 4.0-4.1 for 44 h. Initially, this exposure provoked massive net losses of sodium and chloride across the gills which arose through a combination of an inhibition of active transport and, more importantly, a stimulation in diffusional efflux. Subsequently, ion losses declined substantially, largely due to a rapid decline in passive efflux but also to a slower, partial recovery in sodium transport. External calcium concentration was virtually without effect on ion fluxes either prior to or following acid exposure but had a definite effect during acid exposure. This effect was initially upon the ratio of C1⁻ to Na⁺ loss and later upon the degree of inhibition of sodium and chloride transport. Possible mechanisms to explain the complex interactions of calcium and pH are proposed.