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Crustacean Species (crustacean + species)
Selected AbstractsCytotoxic effects induced by hexachlorobenzene in Squilla mantis (L.) (Crustacea, Stomatopoda)ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 1 2008Antonio Dell'Anno Abstract Contamination of marine environments by hexachlorobenzene (HCB) represents a serious concern for potential consequences on ecosystem and human health. Despite this, information on cytotoxic effects on marine organisms is still largely lacking. In this study, we investigated cytotoxic effects induced by HCB on gonads and muscular tissue of Squilla mantis by analysing Na+/K+ -ATPase activity and plasma membrane fluidity. This crustacean species was selected as a model for its habitat, trophic level, feeding behavior, and commercial exploitation for human consumption. Time course experiments revealed that low concentrations of HCB (i.e. 50 nM) determine an exponentially decrease of Na+/K+ -ATPase activity and a significant modification of cellular membrane fluidity. Significant negative relationships between Na+/K+ -ATPase activity and membrane fluidity were observed, suggesting that changes in the structure and packing of cellular membranes induced by HCB may be the primary factor affecting the activity of essential bilayer-associated enzymes. Overall these findings suggest that even small concentrations of HCB may determine important changes on cell metabolism with potential cascade effects on recruitment of this commercial species. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2008. [source] Transcriptional readthrough of Hox genes Ubx and Antp and their divergent post-transcriptional control during crustacean evolutionEVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 5 2006Yasuhiro Shiga SUMMARY Hox genes are in principle tandemly arranged in an order colinear with their order of expression along the anterior,posterior axis. Combinations of Hox proteins encode information that specifies the unique characteristics of axial regions in the metazoan body plan. The independent regulation of Hox genes achieved by differential promoter activity is essential for the expression of Hox proteins in distinct territories and thereby creating a full repertoire of Hox codes. Here we report the abundant expression of transcriptional readthrough products of two adjacent Hox genes, Ubx, and Antp, in five crustacean species of Branchiopoda and Malacostraca. Bicistronic mRNA places Antp under the control of the Ubx promoter, which is active in the posterior segments of two branchiopodans Daphnia and Artemia, and would normally reduce the complexity of Hox codes if translated. This does not occur, however, as the translational capability of the bicistronic mRNA is limited. In Daphnia, bicistronic Ubx/Antp mRNA produced no significant level of either UBX or ANTP. In Artemia, on the other hand, the bicistronic mRNA produced only UBX, and replaced the role of monocistronic Ubx mRNA. In this way, multiple post-transcriptional control mechanisms in two extant branchiopodans can be seen as preventing the potentially deleterious consequences of Hox gene fusion. [source] Comparison of the size selectivity of diamond (PA) and square (PE) mesh codends for deepwater crustacean species in the Antalya Bay, eastern MediterraneanJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 4 2009M. C. Deval Summary The aim of this study was to compare selectivity results of currently used 44 mm nominal polyamide (PA) diamond mesh- and alternatively suggested 40 mm nominal polyethylene (PE) square mesh- codends in the deepwater crustacean trawl fishery in the Antalya Bay, eastern Mediterranean. Selectivity experiments were carried out during targeted trawling of four commonly harvested crustacean species: giant red shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea, ,blue and red' shrimp Aristeus antennatus, rose shrimp Parapenaeus longirostris, and pandalid shrimp Plesionika martia. A conventional bottom trawl of 600 meshes around the fishing circle was operated onboard a commercial stern trawler between 6 and 18 June 2007. Depth of the fishing area varied between 441 and 630 m. Data were collected using the covered codend technique, and analyzed using a logistic equation with maximum likelihood for individual and pooled hauls. The commercially used trawl codend was unable to release immature crustaceans. Selectivity parameters of the three species of crustaceans were distinctly lower when collected with the polyamide diamond mesh than with the polyethylene square mesh, except in the case of giant red shrimp for which values were similar. However, the present and previous results show that in square mesh codends, mesh sizes must be more than 40 mm in order to keep catches clear of specimens below minimum landing sizes or 50% sexual maturity sizes of crustaceans in the Mediterranean. This study suggests that regulating mesh size by requiring square mesh openings during deep water crustacean trawling of the eastern Mediterranean is essential for the release of immature individuals. [source] Nutritional quality of red shrimp, Aristeus antennatus (Risso), pink shrimp, Parapenaeus longirostris (Lucas), and Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus),JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 1 2004Rui Rosa Abstract The proximate composition, amino acid and fatty acid profiles, lipid classes and cholesterol and glycogen contents were determined in the edible part of red shrimp, Aristeus antennatus (Risso), pink shrimp, Parapenaeus longirostris (Lucas), and Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus), in two distinct periods of the year. The proximate composition did not vary significantly between species or between periods of sampling. Significant differences in glycogen content were obtained between winter and summer; the lowest values were attained in winter (1.2, 1.1 and 1.0% wet weight for red shrimp, pink shrimp and Norway lobster respectively). With the exception of Norway lobster, an opposite trend was obtained for cholesterol content, ie lower values in summer (60.8 and 57.8 mg per 100 g wet weight for red shrimp and pink shrimp respectively). The major essential amino acids (EAA) were arginine, lysine and leucine and the limiting amino acid was methionine in all three crustacean species. The most important non-essential amino acids (NEAA) were glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline and glycine. In respect to lipid classes, phospholipids and free cholesterol predominated. The major fatty acids were 16:0, 18:1n-9, 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3. The polyunsaturated fraction was dominant (42.1,48.4%), followed by the monounsaturated (26.3,34.6%) and saturated (22.9,27.4%) fatty acids. In conclusion, the nutritional quality of these shellfish species is similar, they are valuable protein and lipid sources for the human diet and are adequate elements of the traditional Portuguese diet. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Potential Use of Biomarkers in Zooplankton as Early Warning Signals of Ecotoxicological Risk in the Marine Food ChainMARINE ECOLOGY, Issue 2002Roberta Minutoli Abstract. Zooplankton is an essential component of the marine and brackish food chains. The ecotoxicological risk of zooplanktonic communities, estimated by the modern methodological approach of biomarkers, can be used as an early warning signal of ecosystem health. The aim of this project is to estimate the potential use of several biomarkers (esterases, mixed function oxidases, porphyrins) in zooplanktonic organisms. Studies were carried out with different zooplanktonic crustaceans: the copepods Acartia margalefi and Acartia latisetosa collected in Ganzirri Lake (Messina); the mysid Siriella clausi collected in Faro Lake (Messina); the mysids Diamysis bahirensis, Siriella armata and Mysidopsis gibbosa collected in Stagnone di Marsala (Palermo); the Antarctic euphausiids Euphausia crystallorophias and Euphausia superba; the am-phipod Streetsia challengeri and the euphausiid Meganycthiphanes norvegica collected after a shore-stranding along Messina's Ionian coast. Moreover, experiments were carried out with the benthic decapods Eriphia verrucosa and Pachygrapsus marmoratus from a rocky shore of Messina's Ionian coast. Acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) was determined in homogenates of whole organisms. The key result of this project concerns the different AChE activity basal values of different crustacean species. Particular attention should be paid to the difference in basal activity found between the Antarctic and the Mediterranean species. [source] Lecithin requirements of juvenile Australian red claw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatusAQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 4 2003K.R. Thompson Abstract Australian red claw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus is considered a popular crustacean species in several countries around the world because of its large size potential and resemblance to high-priced American lobsters. However, little is currently known of the nutrient requirements and practical diet formulations for red claw. Lecithin has been shown to be required in the diets of several crustacean species, but there are no reports of dietary lecithin requirements for red claw. A 10-week feeding trial was conducted in an effort to evaluate lecithin requirements for juvenile red claw. Juvenile red claw (mean individual weight of 1.6 ± 0.91 g) were individually stocked in a recirculating system at random into 80 plastic-mesh culture units, each containing its own individual water line. There were 20 red claw per treatment (diet). Water was recirculated through biological and mechanical filters. Four semi-purified diets were formulated to contain increasing percentages of commercial soya bean lecithin (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0%). Diet ingredients included solvent-extracted menhaden fish meal (FM), casein, dextrin, wheat flour, pellet binder, vitamin and mineral mix, cod liver oil, and corn oil. Semi-purified diets were formulated to contain 40% protein using casein, menhaden FM, and wheat flour as protein sources. After 10 weeks, no significant differences (P > 0.05) were found in final weight, percentage weight gain and specific growth rate with average values of 13.0 g, 934%, and 3.14% day,1, respectively. Percentage survival was high during the 10-week period (100, 95, 100 and 95%) as only two individuals died during the study; one of these, because of an escape from the culture unit. There was also no significant differences (P > 0.05) in percentage moisture, protein, fat and ash in whole-body red claw carcasses (wet-weight basis) among any treatment (diet) and averaged 77.1, 12.6, 1.3 and 6.2%, respectively. Based upon the present study, these results indicate that a diet containing 5% cod liver oil and 1% corn oil, and having no supplemental lecithin, may be sufficient for growth and survival of juvenile red claw crayfish. [source] | |||||||||||||