Table 1.
Net sulfur uptake (oxidation) and excretion by the three mollusc genera. Number of individuals (n) and the total wet weight of gill tissue for each mollusc genus in each experiment, as well as the average (min, max) concentrations of sulfide, thiosulfate and polysulfides as measured via a voltammetric electrode in the effluent from each aquaria. BDL stands for ‘below detection limit’.
| experiment | genus | n | total gill wet weight (g) | sulfide (μM)a | thiosulfate (μM)a | polysulfides (μM)a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sulfur-free | control | 0 | 0 | BDL | BDL | BDL |
| Alviniconcha | 5 | 15.88 | BDL | BDL | BDL | |
| I. nautilei | 5 | 18.83 | BDL | BDL | BDL | |
| B. brevior | 4 | 18.78 | BDL | BDL | BDL | |
| sulfide | control | 0 | 0 | 66 (46, 107) | BDL | BDL |
| Alviniconcha | 5 | 22.56 | 5.7 (2.7,9.7) | BDL | BDL | |
| I. nautilei | 5 | 20.49 | 5.8 (3.0, 8.6) | BDL | BDL | |
| B. brevior | 4 | 18.36 | 3.0 (1.4, 3.9) | BDL | BDL | |
| thiosulfate | control | 0 | 0 | 0.32 (BDL, 1.1) | 276 (216, 310) | BDL |
| Alviniconcha | 3 | 21.42 | 0.22 (BDL, 0.36) | 139 (BDL, 209) | BDL | |
| I. nautilei | 4 | 19.50 | 0.22 (BDL, 0.31) | 42 (BDL, 70) | BDL | |
| B. brevior | 3 | 13.46 | BDL | 140 (67 188) | BDL |
aDetection limits: sulfide and polysulfides, 0.20 μM; thiosulfate, 30 μM.