EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON OSMOREGULATION OF FRESHWATER POIKILOTHERMS

Abstract

Much work has been done during the past few years showing that as the temperature of an organism changes, either upward or down, ionic equilibrium is disturbed within this organism. The degree of disturbance has been shown to vary with the degree and rate of temperature change, seasons, species, and also with individual ions. Researchers have tried to explain mass mortalities of fish using the ion equilibrium approach. However, there is much that is as yet unexplained regarding the ionic requirements of cells and the mechanisms of ionic regulation. It is further complicated by the influence of hormones and the nervous system upon membrane permeability.