Metabolic Adjustments of the West African Lungfish, Protopterus Annectens in Brackish Water

Abstract

African lungfish, Protopterus annectens (P. annectens; mean weight, 338.8g and mean length, 39.5cm) procured from Imo River at Umuna in Imo State, Nigeria, were, after acclimation in dechlorinated water, transferred into each of the following concentrations of seawater:-0%0, 1.9%0, 3.7%0, 5.6%0 , 7.4%0 , 9.3%0 , and 11.1%0 , and placed there for four weeks after which the levels of their blood nitrogenous wastes (urea, uric acid and creatinine) were determined . There was a significant positive linear correlation between salinity and mean  blood urea, uric acid and creatinine concentrations respectively.

The study strongly suggests some metabolic adjustments that occur whilst maintaining or culturing P. annectens in brackish or estuarine water regimes.