SURVIVAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS OF JUVENILE DISK ABALONE HALIOTIS-DISCUS-DISCUS DURING LONG-TERM STARVATION

Changes in the glycogen and triglyceride levels of the muscle and mid- gut gland of fed and starved juvenile disk abalone Haliotis discus dis cus were examined over a 70 day period. In the starved treatment, the glycogen and triglyceride contents in both tissues were consumed withi n 30 days, and from then, the water soluble protein content decreased. The mortality ratio increased after 40 days and reached approximately 50% on the 70th day, suggesting that juvenile Haliotis discus discus are able to resist comparatively long-term starvation. However, abalon es which were starved for more than 30 days were considered to show hi gh physiological stress, that is with a reduction of behavioral activi ty and increase of mortality ratio due to degradation of water soluble protein.