Ontogenetic changes in digestive enzymatic capacities of the spider crab, Maja brachydactyla (Decapoda: Majidae)

Ontogenetic changes in digestive capabilities were analyzed in larvae and first juveniles of the spider crab Maja brachydactyla. Activities of five proteinases (total proteases, trypsin, chymotrypsin, pepsin-like and aminopeptidase), three carbohydrases (amylase, maltase and chitinase), an esterase and an alkaline phosphatase were studied to evaluate digestive enzyme profiles of the species. Both quantitative (spectrophotometry and fluorometry) and qualitative (SDS-PAGE) approaches were used. All assayed enzymes were active from hatching (zoea I-ZI) throughout larval development and in first juveniles. Significant variations during ontogeny were found only in total activities likely as a consequence of digestive system development. Specific activity varied little over ontogeny, being significant only for chitinase. Total proteases, trypsin and pepsin-like activities showed a similar pattern of increase as larval ontogeny advanced, decreasing significantly in juveniles. Chymotrypsin continued to increase, showing maximum activity after metamorphosis. Proteinase zymograms confirmed strong proteolytic activity in first zoeas, with increasing bands over the course of ontogeny, decreasing after metamorphosis. A group of bands with high molecular mass was specific to larval stages. Amylase and maltase showed a parallel pattern of continuous increase of total activity as development advanced. Gel-SDS-PAGE showed unchanged patterns of amylase activity in first zoeas of different ages and the most complex set of bands during larval ontogeny in second zoea. Esterase total activity increased significantly as ZI's aged likely reflecting introduction of a lipid-enriched diet. The importance of lipid accumulation at the beginning of ontogeny was also confirmed by the protease/esterase and amylase/esterase activity ratios, which decreased from hatch to late ZI and might be explained as an adaptation, ensuring the next molt. The results suggest that larvae of M. brachydactyla are capable of digesting a variety of dietary substrates as soon as they hatch.

Spatio-temporal variations in reproductive patterns and population structure of Pasiphaea multidentata (Decapoda: Caridea) in the Blanes canyon and adjacent margin, North-western Mediterranean Sea

The bathyal faunal communities of the NW Mediterranean slopes have been studied consistently in the last two decades, with a special focus on population structure, trophic dynamics and benthopelagic coupling of commercial deep-sea decapod crustaceans and fishes (reviewed in Sardà et al. 2004) and associated species (Cartes and Sardà, 1993; Company and Sardà, 1997, 2000; Cartes et al., 2001; Company et al., 2001, 2003, 2004). One of the major topographic features in the North-western Mediterranean slope is the presence of submarine canyons. Canyons play a major role in funnelling energy and organic matter from the shelf to bathyal and abyssal depths (Puig et al., 2000), but the implications of this enhanced organic supply in the deep-sea benthic communities is still mostly unknown. Trophic supply can follow two major pathways – vertical deposition in the water column (Billett et al., 1983; Baldwin et al., 1998; Lampitt et al., 2001) or down-slope advection on the margins (Puig et al., 2001; Bethoux et al., 2002; Canals et al., 2006) – and can be a limiting factor in the deep-sea, being especially important in the oligotrophic Mediterranean Sea (Sardà et al., 2004). Differences in the quantity, quality and timing of organic matter input to the deep seafloor have been used to explain patterns of biomass and abundance in benthic communities (Levin et al., 1994; Gooday & Turley, 1990; Billett et al., 2001; Galéron et al., 2001; Puig et al., 2001; Gage, 2003) as well as other biological process and in particular the existence of seasonal reproduction (Tyler et al., 1994; Company et al., 2004 (MEPS). Reproduction is a highly energetic process tightly linked to food availability and quality.

Claves de identificación y distribución de los langostinos y camarones (Crustacea: Decapoda) del mar y rios de la costa del Perú

Trata de los •Decapoda Natantia (Crustacea) existentes en el mar y ríos de la costa del Perú, basándose en el estudio de 64 especies catalogadas en las Colecciones Científicas de Crustáceos del Instituto del Mar del Perú (IMARPE) y del Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos MHNUSM). Además se incluye información por referencias bibliográficas de 25 especies, de las cuales na se tuvieron ejemplares disponibles. Se han elaborado claves ilustradas para reconocer las 89 especies tratadas: 76 marinas y 13 de agua dulce. En las claves, basadas en los caracteres mor­ fológicos seña.lados por otros autores se ha dado importancia a la genitalia externa en las Penaeidea y a caracteres fácilmente distinguibles del rostrum y caparazón en los Caridea.

Ciclo reproductivo en las hembras de Cancer setosus (Crustacea, Decapoda) del litoral de Lima, Perú

Un total de 332 individuos de Cancer Setosus con tamaños del caparazón entre 6.5 y 14.0 cm. , fueron colectados en muestreos mensuales entre febrero de 1987 y febrero 1978 de capturas comerciales, provenientes de las costas centrales de Lima, Perú.

Estudio del ciclo reproductivo de hembras de "Marucha" Callianassa garthi retamal, 1975 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Callaniassidae) en la zona de Playa Arica

Describe los principales aspectos de la biología reproductiva de la “marucha”, Callianassa garthi Retamal, 1975, crustáceo decápodo que habita la zona mesolitoral de las playas arenosas de la Costa Peruana. Así mismo, se han definido cinco estadíos de madurez sexual: en madurez, madurez inicial, madurez avanzada, evacuación inicial y evacuación final. Se ha determinado que esta especie tiene una reproducción del tipo grupo-sincrónico, con una maduración gonadal prolongada y un solo periodo de desove al año, el cual se inicia en mayo y finaliza en noviembre con una intensidad máxima entre julio y agosto. Se ha observado que existe una relación inversa entre la actividad reproductiva y la temperatura superficial del mar.

Estudio de la biología reproductiva del "Cangrejo Peludo", Cancer setosus Molina, 1782 (crustacea: decapoda: cancridae) en la Zona de Pisco

Se ha estudiado el ciclo reproductivo de Cancer setosus en la zona de Pisco para lo cual se hicieron muestreos mensuales durante 12 meses. Se han realizado cortes histológicos de las gónadas tanto de hembras como de machos y se describió la escala de madurez macroscópica, para lo cual fue necesario describir la ovogénesis y la espermatogénesis. Por otro lado, se calculó la talla de primer desove para hembras mediante el procedimiento de la frecuencia acumulada al 50% o o.5 de la fracción desovante. El análisis del ciclo reproductivo mostró que esta especie se reproduce durante todo el año pero con dos períodos importantes uno en verano y otro en invierno. Se ha relacionado la influencia de la temperatura y la salinidad sobre la reproducción, siendo la temperatura el factor abiótico más importante encontrándose una relación directa en verano inversa en invierno, mientras que la salinidad no tiene aparentemente alguna relación.

Algunos aspectos bio-ecológicos del "Muy Muy" Emerita analoga (Stimpson, 1857) (DECAPODA: ANOMURA) en playas al sur de Lima

Da a conocer algunos parámetros de la dinámica - poblacional de este crustáceo en la zona central del litoral peruano, tales como: estructura poblacional, densidad, crecimiento, reproducción, ciclo sexual y comportamiento. Así mismo, referir la comunidad biótica de la Playa arenosa estudiada y dar a conocer el valor nutritivo de la especie en cuestión.

Estudio bioquímico e histoquímico de la succinodeshidrogenasa en Zoeas (Decapoda, Brachyura) de la Punta - Callao

El trabajo ha tomado a las zoeas, organismos planctónicos para demostrar la importancia que tiene el conocimiento de las enzimas respiratorias en seres marinos, que están sometidos a diversos factores, entre los cuales citaremos las diferentes profundidades en que se desplazan estos animales, los que nos podría decir si a grandes profundidades el poco oxigeno que existe puede ser lo suficiente como para que las enzimas se presenten positivamente; como en este caso del material biológico superficial.

Different pathways in the larval development of the crab Ucides cordatus (Decapoda, Ocypodidae) and their relation with high mortality rates by the end of massive larvicultures

One of the most limiting factors affecting the larval rearing of Ucides cordatus in the laboratory is a period of high mortality, which usually occurs late in the course of the larviculture during the metamorphosis from the zoeal to the megalopal phase. The objective of the present research was to analyze the post-embryonic development of U. cordatus on an individual basis and, in particular, to search for patterns linking disturbances in the molting process to the high larval death rates observed in massive larvicultures. A total of 50 larvae were individually reared from hatching to metamorphosis into the megalopal phase under controlled conditions, fed a combination of microalgae and rotifers. The survivorship rate was 70% until zoea V. The 35 surviving zoea V larvae followed two different pathways. Eleven underwent metamorphosis directly to megalopa, eighteen molted to zoea VI and six died as zoea V. In the last molting event, only two zoea VI larvae reached the megalopal stage, while the remaining sixteen died. In further observation under microscope, 13 of the dead zoea VI showed characteristics of the pre-molt stage and pereiopods disproportionably large in relation to the carapace. The observed pattern resembles the Molt Death Syndrome (MDS) described for other decapod species, in which larvae die in the late pre-molt phase of the molting cycle. We suggest that U. cordatus larvae develop disturbances in the molting process similar to the MDS described for other species and that these disturbances are related to a more complex pathway involving the emergence of larval stage zoea VI.

Fisiología reproductiva del acocil rojo Procambarus clarkii (Crustacea: decapoda) : establecimiento del ciclo de maduración gonadal y evaluación de su potencial reproductivo

Tesis (Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas con Especialidad en Acuacultura) UANL

Filogeografía de los langostinos del género macrobrachium (decapoda: palaemonidae) de la Península de Baja California, México.

Tesis (Doctor en Ciencias con especialidad en Manejo de Vida Silvestre y Desarrollo Sustentable) UANL, 2014.

Taxonomy, biogeography and phylogeny of Cretaceous frog crabs (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura) from the Neotropics

Le but du présent travail est d’apporter la preuve paléontologique mettant en évidence que le clade Raninoida était bien établi dans le Néotropique durant la période Crétacée, où il était représenté par les plus anciennes familles ou par quelques–uns des plus anciens membres des plus anciennes familles. Je décris des taxa raninoïdiens ou similaires, incluant Archaeochimaeridae n. fam. et Archaeochimaera macrophthalma n. gen. n. sp., du Cénomanien supérieur (~95 Ma.) de Colombie (Chapitre 3), Planocarcinus n. gen., Planocarcinus olssoni (Rathbun, 1937) n. comb. et Notopocorystes kerri n. sp., de l’Aptien supérieur (~115 Ma.) de Colombie (Luque et al., accepté) (Chapitre 2). Ces taxa nouveaux, plus la présence de Cenomanocarcinus vanstraeleni Stenzel, 1945, dans l’Albien supérieur de Colombie (Vega et al., 2010), et d’Araripecarcinus ferreirai Martins–Neto, 1987, dans l’Albien du Brésil (Luque et al., en cours) (Chapitre 4), représentent certains des plus anciens signalements de quatre des sept familles raninoïdiennes, au moins, connues à ce jour. La nouvelle famile Archaeochimaeridae se présente comme le groupe frère du clade Raninidae + clade Symethidae. Cependant, la combinaison unique de caractères primitifs, dérivés et homoplasiques est inégalable chez les Raninoida, et, en fait, chez les autres sections de crabes podotrèmes. Alors que les taxa raninoïdiens du Crétacé sont bien connus aux latitudes élevées, les signalements en Amérique du Sud tropicale sont rares et épars, avec pour résultat de considérables distorsions pour traiter des importantes questions biogéographiques et phylogénétiques. Sur la base de données taxonomiques, paléobiogéographiques et cladistiques, une ré–appréciation des toute premières distributions spatio–temporelle des “crabes grenouilles” est proposée, avec pour objet de contribuer à une plus large compréhension de la diversité, phylogénie et évolution des premiers brachyoures au cours des âges.

Studies On Pobtunid Crabs [Crustacea Decapoda Brachyura)

True crabs are the most fascinating group of organisms among the decapod crustaceans. Great importance is attached at present to the increased exploitation of these animals and therefore there is great scope for further development of their fishery. They have a broad and hard carapace, massive chelate legs, bent abdomen and exhibit high degree of adaptation to the environment. They show pelagic, benthic, intertidal, burrowing and terrestrial modes of life. Their commensal association with other invertebrates, their breeding behaviour and life history are of great interest to biologists. More than six hundred species of crabs are known to occur in Indian waters and among them about eight species form a regular fishery along the entire stretch of peninsular India (Rao §§_al., 1973) round the year. Crab fishery in India is fast developing and there is vast scope for them as there are many more potential species. Among the various crustacean diets, crabs are celebrated for deliciousness and for nutritional richness. In recent days, crab food items have become more popular and gained global reception. These resources can also be augmented further by culturing them in ponds in the future. Information on biology and ecology of constituent species go a long way not only in effective exploitation and regulation of the respective fishery resources but also helps in evolving a suitable gear for their capture. Information collected on the national level in various aspects as reproduction, growth rate, larval development, parasites, diseases, nutritive values etc. will be of help in evolving a national policy for the effective utilisation and conservation of this resource. They also provide the baseline information for undertaking any purposeful and meaningful culture activities. Information on the various aspects mentioned above is very much restricted in true crabs and hence the present study

Bathymetric distribution of the shrimp Rimapenaeus constrictus (Stimpson, 1874) (Decapoda, Penaeidae) in two locations off the southeastern Brazilian coast

The distribution of benthic organisms is directly or indirectly associated with the physical and chemical properties of the water and sediment. This study analysed the spatial and temporal distribution of Rimapenaeus constrictus in unconsolidated sublittoral sediments of two areas off the northern coast of the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. We also analysed the association of environmental factors with the occurrence of this species. Shrimp were collected monthly from July 2001 to June 2003, with a fishing boat equipped with two double-rig nets, in the regions of Ubatuba (UBA) and Caraguatatuba (CA). The collections were made during the day, along five transects with mean depths of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 m. We obtained a total of 5478 individuals, 3403 (UBA = 2025 and CA = 1378) during the first year, and 2075 (UBA = 875 and CA = 1200) during the second year. Significant differences in abundance were observed in relation to depth, season of the year, and also in the interaction between region and depth. Higher abundances occurred in fall and winter, independently of the sampling year. The largest numbers of shrimp were caught on the 20-m transect in UBA and the 25-m transect in CA. It is concluded that the distribution pattern of this species is closely related to environmental factors, and the temperature of the bottom water and the sediment texture were the most significant variables affecting the distribution.