QUANTIFICATION OF THE PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF THE EUROPEAN FLAT OYSTER OSTREA EDULIS L. TO TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY

Physiological stress was quantified in specimens of the Europeanflat oyster Ostrea edulis, acclimated to a matrix of temperature(5–25°C) and salinity (16–34%o) conditions,using the Scope for Growth (SFG) index. Variations in the indexwere interpreted from the responses of its components, absorptionefficiency, filtration rate, respiration and ammonia excretionrates, to external conditions. Mean SFG values were most influencedby acclimation temperature but significant differences werefound between animals at different salinities over the rangetested. There was a severe reduction in SFG when high temperaturewas combined with reduced salinity (