Effect of environmental calcium levels on calcium uptake in tilapia larvae Oreochromis mossambicus

Effects of environmental calcium concentrations on the survival, growth, body calcium content and calcium uptake kinetics in developing tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) larvae were studied. Fertilized eggs were incubated in high- and low-calcium artificial freshwater (0.88–0.96 mmol l^–1 vs. 0.02–0.03 mmol l^–1 CaCl₂ or CaSO₄) until 3 days after hatching. Tilapia larvae showed similar hatching rates and wet weights in either high- or low-calcium medium, indicating neither the development nor the growth in tilapia larvae was affected by the environmental calcium levels. The body calcium content in low-calcium groups was about 90–95% that of high-calcium groups, No matter what calcium source was used (CaCl₂ or CaSO₄), acclimation to low calcium medium caused a stimulation of calcium uptake (measured in 0.2 mmol l^–1 calcium),i.e., 1.2–1.3 fold higher than that of high calcium groups. This enhanced calcium uptake capacity was characterized by a 50% decrease in K_m and a 25% increase in J_max. Effect of different calcium salts on calcium influx was significant only in low calcium level,i.e., calcium influx in low-CaCl₂ group higher than that in low-CaSO₄ group. These results suggest that tilapia larvae are able to modulate their calcium uptake mechanism to maintain normal body calcium content and growth in environments with different levels of calcium.