Abstract
RECENTLY one of us1 reported some results of measurements of the oxygen isotopic composition of phosphate from shells of living marine organisms. Four of the specimens measured were crabs and from the results obtained it was inferred that biological fractionation effects are involved in the process of precipitation of the calcium phosphate of crab shells. It was important to have better information of the behaviour of crabs in this regard in view of the possible utilization of fossil specimens for palaeotemperature measurements on phosphates. For this reason, some crabs were grown under controlled temperature conditions. Some ten specimens of Carcinides maenas Rath. (Carcinus maenas) were maintained in a thermostatic bath with a continuous inflow of sea water. The reasons for this were: (a) to maintain the oxygen isotopic composition of the water at a constant value it is essential to reduce the effects of evaporation; (b) that it is necessary to provide a continuous supply of sea water just in case crabs precipitate (at least partially) their calcium phosphate directly from sea water.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Longinelli, A., Nature, 207, 716 (1965).
Dennel, R., and Passano, L. M., in The Physiology of Crustacea, 1 (Academic Press, New York, 1960).
Longinelli, A., Proc. Third Spoleto Meet. on Nuclear Geology (1965) (in the press).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
LONGINELLI, A., SORDI, M. Oxygen Isotopic Composition of Phosphate from Shells of some Living Crustaceans. Nature 211, 727–728 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/211727a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/211727a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.