Biological Differences Between Sea Waters: Experiments in 1954 and 1955

Abstract

In 1954 and 1955 various natural, artificial and treated sea waters were tested with developing eggs of Echinus esculentus. The following are the main observations:1. Sea waters filtered through Doulton candles at the time of collection and proved bacteriologically sterile until use were very little different from sea waters collected at the same time in the ordinary way and not sterile. (Expts. 1, 3, 8 and, with qualifications, 6.)2. Undiluted Celtic sea bottom water and undiluted Celtic mud ‘extract’ were harmful to the eggs, but small volumes of both added to natural sea waters and to artificial sea water had a stimulating effect. (Expt. 1.)3. In water from near the bottom at E1 eggs did worse, in 1954, than in surface water from the same locality. In 1955 they did slightly better in the deeper water. (Expts. 3, 4 and 7.)4. Eggs placed immediately after fertilization in water from near the bottom at E1 (and from near the bottom at the Echinus ground) and transferred at first cleavage to surface waters were affected unfavourably. (Expts. 3, 4 and 7.) Artificial sea water had no such effect. (Expt. 5.)5. The addition to natural and to artificial sea waters of filtrates from culture medium (‘erdschreiber’) and from thick cultures of diatoms and flagellates had no significant effects on the eggs developing in those waters. (Expt. 6.)6. In 1955 surface water from the Clyde was a better medium for development than surface water from E1. The difference was similar to that frequently observed several years previously. (Expt. 7.)7. Extracts of natural sea waters made by a new process were non-poisonous, but the experiment in which they were added to artificial sea water was inconclusive owing to the eggs proving to be of poor quality. (Expt. 8.)