HEMOCYANIN SUBUNIT COMPOSITION IN THE AMERICAN LOBSTER HOMARUS-AMERICANUS

A monomeric subunit composition of the O-2 carrier hemocyanin was exam ined in a sample of American lobsters from Long Island Sound. The find ings were compared with data obtained from a sample of animals that ha d been held under relatively stable conditions in the laboratory for m onths or even years. Both samples were somewhat polymorphic. The Long Island Sound sample was no more variable than the laboratory sample, h owever, indicating that the limited variation is a characteristic of t he species and not a product of acclimation to stable conditions.