Effect of Decalcification Procedures on the Dry Weights of Benthic Invertebrates

Estimates of standing crops and annual productivities of benthic invertebrate populations are normally based on dry weights. Heavily calcified species, such as crustaceans, molluscs, and echinoderms, must be decalcified before obtaining dry weights comparable to those of noncalcified species. The usual decalcification reagent is 1.0 N HCl, which is powerful and attacks beef bone protein. The possibility that dry weights of benthic invertebrates are significantly lowered by the destruction of organic material by HCl during decalcification was examined.