Propylene Phenoxetol as a Relaxant for the Pearl Oysters Pinctada imbricata and Pinctada albina

摘要

The lesponses of pearl oysters Pinctada imbricata and Pinctada albina to the relaxant, propylene phenoxetol (PP) were similar to those repotted for other members of the genus Wedges that keep the valves of oysters open were unnecessary as most oystersopened readily in the presence of PP (2 mL L~(-1) seawater). Relaxation generally occurred within 15 min and, upon removal from the relaxant bath, oysters recovered within 10 min without any sign of ill-effects. In general, both relaxation and subsequent recovery times decreased with increasing water temperature. The size of oysters had little effect on the time taken to open the valves in the presence of PP, the time to relax nor the time to recover after exposure. Prolonged exposure to PP (90 min) significantly increased the recovery time, but no mortality or apparent ill effects were observed in the week following exposure.