Effects of salinity on embryonic and larval development of Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis(Decapoda: Brachyura) and salinity-induced physiological changes

To investigate the effects of salinity on early development of Chinese mitten crab ( Eriocheir sinensis ), and the salinity tolerance mechanism of embryos, different developmental stages of embryos (gastrula, eyespot and pre-hatching stage), and hatched stage I zoea and megalopa, were exposed to a range of salinities (1, 5, 10, 15 (control), 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40). Hatching, survival and molting were monitored. Effects of 24-hour hypersaline (35) and hyposaline (1) stress on egg diameter, water content, Na +/K +-ATPase (NKA) activity, and crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) gene mRNA expression in embryos and megalopa, are reported. Embryos are more tolerant of low (≤ 5) than high (≥25) salinities, with optimum ranges for gastrula and pre-hatching stage embryos being 5-20, and for eyespot embryo and stage I zoea, 10-20. Most megalopa can molt to the first juvenile instar by day 5 at salinities between 1 and 40, whereas molting of megalopa stages was delayed at 40. Hypersaline conditions resulted in a loss of moisture, reduction of egg volume, and a signifi cant increase in NKA activity and CHH mRNA expression at some developmental stages. Hyposaline conditions did not affect moisture content or egg volume, but resulted in decreased NKA activity and CHH mRNA expression in embryos. For megalopa stages, NKA activity was significantly upregulated following both hypo- and hypersaline stress. Our results suggest high salinity will inhibit development and hatching of E. sinensis embryos, and low salinity will affect the survival of their stage I zoea. Increased NKA activity in embryos and megalopa stages might indicate a hyporegulation response under hypersaline conditions. These findings provide useful information for spawning ground protection of indigenous E . sinensis and enrich the knowledge of embryonic tolerance mechanisms of hyperregulating crustaceans following osmotic stress.     

Salinity tolerance of northern Brazilian mangrove crab larvae, Ucides cordatus (Ocypodidae): Necessity for larval export?

The life cycle of the semiterrestrial mangrove crab Ucides cordatus includes pelagic larvae that are released into estuarine waters during the wet season and who may thus encounter potentially stressful low and variable salinity conditions. The effect of salinity on the survival of the zoea larvae, the number of zoeal stages and the duration of development from hatching to megalopa was experimentally studied by rearing larvae from the Caeté estuary, Northern Brazil, in seven salinity treatments (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30). For a better interpretation of the laboratory results, estuarine salinities were measured over five consecutive years during the species' reproductive season. The survival of the zoea larvae varied significantly with salinity, while the number of stages and the duration of their development remained constant. Development to megalopa took 20.77 ± 1.57 days and comprised five zoeal stages with ZI and ZII being euryhaline and later stages stenohaline. The newly hatched larvae stayed alive for up to 6 days in freshwater (average 4.32 ± 0.82 days), but did not moult to the second zoeal stage. ZII larvae first occurred from salinity 5 onwards and later zoeal stages at all tested salinities ≥10. However, the larvae only survived to megalopa at salinities ≥15, with highest numbers at salinity 30 (72%) and lowest at 15 (16%). Lethal salinities ≤10 occurred frequently in the estuary during the reproductive season. This suggests a need for larval export to offshore and thus more saline waters to allow for significant larval survival and maintenance of viable populations of this commercially important species. A regional rather than local approach for management is suggested due to the likelihood of long distance larval dispersal by offshore currents.     

锯缘青蟹(Scylla serrata)幼体胃磨发育的比较研究

在青蟹幼体发育过程中，胃磨呈现出明显的变化。Ｚ１缺乏胃磨的结构，ＺⅡ开始出现中齿和侧齿的雏形，明显的可以识别的中齿和侧齿出现在ＺⅢ，．从ＺＶ开始胃磨已臻完善，除具有中齿和侧齿外，还出现了４个附属齿，包括两个附属的中齿和两个附属的侧齿。大眼幼体期，中齿和侧齿比ＺＶ更加尖锐，附属齿也更加锋利。在仔蟹前，中齿齿尖发生特化，形成垫状角质化区域，侧齿、附属齿更加锋利。这表明青蟹幼体发育过程中胃磨结构的变化与     

海洋无脊椎动物幼体定居过程影响因子的研究进展

约80%的海洋无脊椎动物在生活史中具浮游幼体阶段,其中甲壳动物的幼体最为多样化。十足类甲売动物具典型的浮游幼体阶段,而后是由浮游到底栖这一生活习性转变的关键一一定居过程(settlement)。十足类幼体阶段持续的时间在不同的类群相差很大,影响其定居的因子也多种多样。 有关海洋无脊椎动物浮游幼体阶段存在机制的研究已进行了约半个世纪,这种普遍存在的浮游幼体被认为:(1)有利于种的分布与扩散;(2)由于浮游幼体采取多变的生活方式而避免了许多底栖捕食者;(3)增加种群间的基因交换,保持其遗传变异性和适应性；(4)浮游幼体以浮游生物为饵,减轻了卵子所需携带的卵黄量,从而增加了产卵量。浮游幼体也有其不利的一面,如幼体在漂移过程中的高死亡率等。然而浮游幼体阶段在海洋底栖无脊椎动物中的普遍存在,从进化角度讲,对种群发展利大于弊,是物种演化过程中一种选择性的折衷。 十足类幼体定居过程的研究多集中在龙虾和蟹类上。有关对虾类的研究很少见,仅有 Haghes (1966), Staples 等(1985), Coles 等(1987)和 Loneragan 等(1994)报道过对虾仔虾和稚虾的分布与栖息地海草分布的相关性。 由于甲壳动物栖息地的多样性,其幼体定居过程的研究对了解甲壳动物种群和群落动态具有十分重要的意义。影响定居过程的因子通常被分为三类,即生物因子、物理因子和化学因子。鉴于三者之间的密切相关性,本文将对其进行综合分析,并讨论有关幼体定居过程的两种假说:栖息地选择(habitat selection)学说和被动沉降(passive deposition)学说。     

南美白对虾早期幼体消化酶活力的研究

以酶学分析方法对南美白对虾(Penaeus vannamei Boone)幼体及仔虾 4种消化酶的活力进行了分析测定,结果表明:南美白对虾早期幼体消化酶活力表现差异,类胰蛋白酶、胃蛋白酶的活力为无节幼体(N)<溞状幼体(Z)<糠虾幼体(M)<仔虾(P),类胰蛋白酶的活力比胃蛋白酶高2倍左右;淀粉酶的活力Z-M期表现较高,以后随幼体发育淀粉酶活力明显降低;脂肪酶活力在早期幼体发育阶段变化不大,且活力较低。     

锯缘青蟹幼体饵料蛋白质的营养价值评价

本文分析测定了锯缘青蟹幼体从刚孵化至大眼幼体各发育阶段及其饵料轮虫和卤虫无节幼体的氨基酸组成，并使用必需氨基酸指数(EAAI)来评价饵料蛋白质的质量.结果表明，青蟹各期幼体的氨基酸组成基本趋于一致，且与饵料转换不存在明显的相关性.对于各期幼体，饵料轮虫和卤虫无节幼体的必需氨基酸指数均大于90，可以认为，轮虫和卤虫无节幼体能够满足锯缘青蟹幼体对饵料中必需氨基酸的营养需求.     

鮸鱼(Miichthys miiuy)仔、稚鱼发育生长方式及其生态学意

采用实验生态学方法,进行了鮸鱼仔稚鱼发育生长方式及其生态学意义研究。结果表明,鮸鱼的形态学变化和器官分化主要发生在仔鱼期。仔鱼期头部和尾部快于躯干部的生长。仔鱼头部(拐点:9.80mm体长)、眼径(8.87mm)和口径(23.40mm)的正异速生长为仔鱼的呼吸和摄食提供了有利条件;尾长(16.40mm)正异速生长为减少仔鱼运动能耗和成功逃避捕食者准备了条件;虽然躯干部生长比较缓慢,但是体高呈现正异速生长(11.20mm),这可能与仔鱼消化系统为满足其迅速发育的营养需要而快速生长及鳔的发育有关。结果表明,鮸鱼在早期发育阶段优先发育对生长生存起关键作用的器官,即运动、视觉和摄食器官。但在稚鱼阶段,其主要长度量度相对于体长指标均呈现负异速成长。     

Life‐history studies on New Zealand Brachyura

Abbreviated or direct development is described in Pilumnus novaezealandiae Filhol, 1886 and P. lumpinus Bennett, 1964 from New Zealand. Embryonic development is separated into Nauplius, Metanauplius and embryonic zoeal stages. The ontogenetic position of the pre‐zoeal cuticle suggests that it represents the Metanauplius stage, and the absence of plumose pre‐zoeal aesthaetes in P. novaezealandiae implies relationship with the more recently evolved brachyuran families. The significance of the pre‐zoeal cuticle in brachyuran phylogeny is discussed. In P. noveazealandiae four embryonic zoeal phases are recognised as approximately equivalent to the four Zoea larval stages occurring in the majority of xanthid Brachyura. It was not possible to distinguish similar phases in embryonic zoeal development of P. lumpinus because of advanced anachronism which is normally associated with abbreviated development. The appearance of relatively advanced structures very early in ontogeny is attributed to the absence of the need for successive developmental stages to be adapted for free life. In the embryonic Zoea, carapace spines considered to assist with flotation and orientation, and natatory setae, are together reduced or absent in abbreviated development where such structures would be of no use within the egg.

In P. novaezealandiae and P. lumpinus increase in egg size during incubation is probably due to absorption of water by the embryo during development, and eclosion is initiated by rupture of the chorion through internal pressure thus created. Larvae of P. noveazealandiae hatch at a Megalopa larval stage and are retained beneath the pleon of the female crab. Those of P. lumpinus hatch as advanced, much‐modified, and non‐natatory Zoeae which are not retained by the parent. Simultaneous moulting of the pre‐zoeal and zoeal skins occurs in both species.

The Megalopa larva and first five juvenile crab stages of P. novaezealandiae are described and compared with equivalent stages of P. vestitus from Australia recorded by Hale (1931). The Megalopa larva of P. lumpinus is described. P. lumpinus is considered as the least evolved of the three species of Pilumnus possessing abbreviated development, while P. vestitus suggests a second stage, and the third and most advanced stage is shown by P. novaezealandiae Ecology of these three species is correlated with abbreviated development. Retention of potentially free‐swimming Megalopa larvae by the parent explains gregariousness among juvenile crabs and adults of both P. novaezealandiae and P. vestitus

It is probable that abbreviated development has evolved among marine and freshwater Brachyura as a response to habitat requirements of the adult crabs. Partial or complete abbreviation of the planktonic phase and retention of larvae would assist with retaining the stock within a restricted locality or ecological niche. Abbreviated development among Brachyura therefore has little phylogenetic significance.     

三疣梭子蟹(Portunus trituberculatus)foxl2基因功能初探及相关miRNA分析

foxl2在脊椎动物卵巢分化、发育和功能维持等方面具有重要作用,然而其在三疣梭子蟹(Por-tunus trituberculatus)卵巢发育中的功能尚不明确.本研究首先克隆了三疣梭子蟹foxl2(Ptfoxl2)基因cDNA全长序列,该基因5′和3′非编码区域(UTR)长度分别为701?bp和211?bp,开放阅读...     

三疣梭子蟹(Portunus trituberculatus)幼体不同干露温度下死亡率的研究

通过设置15℃、20℃、25℃、30℃4个干露温度梯度,检测不同发育阶段三疣梭子蟹幼体的露空时间、死亡率、含水量、失水率及体重消耗率等指标,分析干露温度、发育阶段与幼体死亡率的关系。结果表明,各发育阶段的幼体死亡率均随干露时间的增加而升高(P<0.05);不同温度条件下,Ⅰ期幼蟹(CⅠ)的含水量、失水率和体重消耗率均高于Ⅱ期幼蟹(CⅡ)(P<0.05);CⅡ20℃时的露空时间最长,为11h,半致死时间为7—8h;30℃时最短,为2h;CⅠ15℃时的露空时间最短,为0.5h;20℃时最长,为4h。相同温度下,幼体各发育阶段的耐干露能力为CⅡ>CⅠ>ZⅣ>ZⅢ=M。结果说明,温度≤15℃不利于幼体的存活,温度≥25℃干露耐受性降低。因此,20℃更有利于幼体获得长存活时间。     

Stage‐dependent thyroxine effects on sea urchin development

Thyroxine, one of the iodinated hormones produced by vertebrate thyroids, has been reported to accelerate late larval development in several sea urchins (Chino et al. 1994) and in the crown‐of‐thorns starfish (Johnson & Cartwright 1996), but thyroxine effects on earlier portions of echinoderm development have not been reported. I investigated thyroxine effects on developmental rates during several periods spanning development from early cleavage to metamorphosis in the New Zealand sea urchin Evechinus chloroticus (Valenciennes). Thyroxine treatment slowed development between the eight‐cell stage and assembly of the four‐armed pluteus and mid‐larval development between the four‐armed and six‐armed stages. Thyroxine treatment accelerated progress of eight‐armed plutei toward settling, but did not alter the final percentages of larvae that settled and metamorphosed to juvenile urchins. Acceleration of late larval echinoderm development by thyroxine may indicate a relatively ancient evolutionary origin of thyroxine's effects on developmental processes (Johnson 1997).     

饵料对锯缘青蟹大眼幼体生长发育的影响

以不同比例的轮虫和卤虫无节幼体搭配成各种饵料组合，分别喂养不同发育期的锯缘青蟹幼体，重点研究大眼幼体的存活、生长发育、变态和干重及化学元素(C、H、N)含量的情况.结果表明饵料搭配得当，适时适量的投喂，其幼体的生长发育和变态都正常，并可获得较高的存活率，若饵料搭配不当不仅会导致幼体出现高死亡率，而且还能诱发发育期变化的现象；不同饵料搭配对大眼幼体干重及化学元素(C、H、N)含量的影响很显著，相差60％～70％，约一个发育期，而这差异可以通过该期幼体投喂足量卤虫无节幼体来加以弥补，大眼幼体的C、H、N占干重的百分比仅次于溞V，这表明青蟹幼体在这两次变态前需在体内积累高比例的有机营养物质来保证变态的顺利进行.     

海洋硬骨鱼类卵黄囊期生物能学研究

卵黄囊期是鱼类早期发育中的一个重要阶段，是鱼类由内源营养向外源营养转化的一个关键时期。在此期间，游离氨基酸、蛋白质、脂肪酸、总脂和碳水化合物等基本生化成份的变化表现出一定的规律性，并具有种的特异性。从能量学的角度来分析，则表现为主要能源物质在发育过程中有规律的变化，各能量物质是按一定顺序被利用的。 鱼卵是一个高度特化的自组织系统，它在发育过程中，用于细胞活动的物质基础主要是卵黄。在卵黄期，卵细胞的代谢过程可描述为依生化成份变化的生化代谢过程和依能量转移和释放的能量代谢过程。从受精到卵黄囊消耗完全的卵黄囊期，以开口摄食为标志分为前后两个阶段，开口之前为全部利用自身营养的内源营养阶段，开口之后为利用自身营养和外源营养相结合的混合营养阶段。探素卵黄囊期海洋硬骨鱼类的能量转化规律，定量分析发育过程中生化成分和能量物质的变化，预测维持仔稚鱼生命活动和提供生长所必需的合适饵料营养成分，已成为鱼类早期发育生物学研究的热点课题。     

DNA strand breaks (comet assay) and embryo development effects in grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) embryos after exposure to genotoxicants.

Grass shrimp embryos develop in egg sacs (stages 1-10) attached to the female for 14-20 days after which they 'hatch' from the egg sacs into a swimming zoea stage (stage 11). Until they emerge from the egg sacs, embryos depend on lipids and lipovitellin stored within the egg. The percent of embryos which hatch after exposure to toxicants relative to controls was the basis of an embryo development assay. Exposure of embryos to chromium(III) chloride, sodium chromate, mercuric chloride, and 2-methyl-1,2-naphthoquinone (MNQ) resulted in a reduced hatching rate. In addition to effects on embryo development, DNA strand damage tests were carried out on contaminant-exposed embryos, using the single-cell electrophoresis method often referred to as comet assay. Development of stage 4 embryos was more affected by MNQ exposure than stage 7 embryos. The hatching rates of stages 4 and 7 embryos exposed to MNQ (172 micrograms/l) were 0 and 90%, respectively. DNA strand damage, measured as DNA tail moments, were 3.4 and 4.4, respectively. Thus, exposure of an early embryo stage to MNQ prevented full embryo development while development of later embryo stages was not affected. It may be that the DNA repair systems are more efficient in later embryo stages than in early stages and thus DNA damaged in the early stages affects development.     

Rhynchoplax coralicola的繁殖及其幼体发育

本文讨论了实验室条件下Ｒｈｙｎｃｈｏｐｌａｘ ｃｏｒａｌｉｃｏｌａ的繁殖和幼体发育。Ｒｈｙｎｃ－ｈｏｐｌａｘ ｃｏｒａｌｉｃｏｌａ的幼体发育只有状幼体阶段分为３期。幼体孵出到发育为第一期幼蟹需１３天（Ⅰ期需１３天,Ⅱ期需６天,Ⅲ期需４天）,在温度２６℃时,成熟Ｒｈｙｎｃｈｏｐｌａｘ ｃｏｒａｌｉｃｏｌａ产卵两次其间隔时间为１５天。     

The effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on lipid metabolism and energetics of larval development and metamorphosis in the american lobster (homarus americanus Milne Edwards)

In studies with larval stages of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) exposed to a sublethal concentration of South Louisiana crude oil, the normal patterns of lipid storage, utilization and synthesis during larval development and metamorphosis were altered with oil exposure. Increased rates of protein catabolism, delayed molting and reduced growth were also evident among oil-exposed lobster larvae and suggest either deficiency or immobilization of lipid reserves. From analyses of lipid class composition of control and oil-exposed lobster larvae, it is evident that oil-exposed larvae have consistently lower levels of triacylglycerols (the major energy store) and higher levels of sterols than control larvae. Decreased ratios of non-essential fatty acids (both saturated and unsaturated) and increased ratios of essential fatty acids were detected in the neutral lipid pools of oil-exposed larvae that suggest both decreased storage of fatty acids in energy reserves and decreased mobilization of essential fatty acids into phospholipid pools. The fatty acid distribution in the phospholipid pools of oil-exposed larvae, however, varied little from control values and reflects a tendency to preserve the integrity of these structural lipids. Increases in sterol levels may be related to decreased mobilization of cholesterol or other sterols and/or transformation of cholesterol into metabolic pathways including the biosynthesis of ecdysterone.Oil-exposed animals contained trace quantities of benzene, thiophene, toluene, alkylcyclohexane and alkylbenzenes, detected with GC-MS analyses. No naphthalene, dimethylnaphthalene, higher molecular weight aromatics or their phenolic derivatives were detected; their absence may be related to either the detection limits of the methodology used or extremely rapid metabolism and turnover of these components. Alterations in lipid metabolism may account for the developmental and energetic abnormalities observed in marine crustaceans. It cannot be ruled out, however, that decreased lipid utilization, synthesis and mobilization may be a defense mechanism against incorporating lipophilic components of petroleum hydrocarbons in metabolic pathways, and that disruption in energetics and development is a consequence of the reduction in energy available for growth and molting.     

Metabolic acceleration in animal ontogeny: An evolutionary perspective

Acceleration of metabolism is defined as a long-term increase of respiration, that is faster than the typical trajectory during the life cycle of an individual, from embryo to adult. The Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) model is used to quantify the typical trajectory. All DEB parameters were estimated for over 300 animal species from most large phyla and all chordate classes. The goodness of fit is generally excellent, including embryo development (embryo weight, respiration, amount of yolk). Although many species match predictions for metabolic rates, particular taxa, including all those with larval development, but also ones with less clear larval stages, deviated and have a lower metabolic rate as embryo, compared to late juvenile and adult stages: they accelerate their metabolism during the life cycle. Five different types of acceleration are identified, examples are given, and methods are presented to recognise these different types. Associated life history traits are discussed in an evolutionary and ecological context. Arguments are presented for why accelerating species have an extra slow start of metabolism and why parental care evolved in endotherms.     

Growth marks in eyestalks of Portunus trituberculatus:A development of technique and evidence of molting

The analysis of growth bands in the eyestalk has been increasingly used for estimating crustacean ageing and molting. In this study, we developed an effective method to process and observe the eyestalk microstructure of the swimming crab(Portunus trituberculatus). We found that dark pigmentation as a result of boiling has an influence on the observation of the eyestalk microstructure. Choosing an unboiled eyestalk, this study compared the cross section and longitudinal section, and concluded that the cross section is suitable for the observation of growth increments with 6.1% CV(coefficient of variation), and growth bands are suitable for the observation of the longitudinal section with 5.4% CV. The width of growth increments near the edge of the endocuticle is small, and the width of growth increments of the middle part of the endocuticle is large. Relationship of number of growth bands to molting time was fitted to a linear function with the slope not significantly different from 1, indicating that growth bands are formed associated with molting. Periodicity of growth increment formation was calculated as 3.7 d, however was not verified. Our results provide a new improved technique for identification of crustacean molting and growth.     

Aspects of larval,post-larval and juvenile ecology of Macrobrachium petersi (Hilgendorf) in the Keiskamma estuary,South Africa

Although Macrobrachium petersi has nine larval stages, only stage I and a minimal number of stage II M. petersi larvae were caught in the Keiskamma estuary. Stage I larvae undergo a vertical migration at night which is markedly influenced by salinity, especially under stratified conditions. Larvae remain in the water column on the ebb tide, a behavioural pattern which effectively carried them to favourable salinities for growth and development. Stage I larvae show an association with salt front regions. The sudden decline in larval abundance from stage I to stage II downstream from the front suggests a change from a pelagic to an epibenthic existence. Later larval stages failed to appear in the plankton. However, post-larvae were caught in the estuary and a juvenile migration from the estuary to freshwater was monitored.     

中国对虾(Penaeus chinensis)消化系统发生的研究

本文对中国对虾消化道和中肠腺的发生进行了研究。完整的中肠管形成于Ｎ３期，它是由幼虫腹面的内胚层板向背中线上卷合拢而形成。在Ｚ１期消化道完全贯通。至Ｍ１期，胃分化为贲门胃和幽门胃两部分，中肠前盲囊和中肠后盲囊也在此期出现，同时胃磨的雏形发生，但完整的胃磨形成于Ｐ期。另外，中肠腺始于Ｎ４－５期中肠前端突出的两对中肠腺盲囊。第一对中肠腺盲囊于Ｍ３期退化消失，而第二对中肠腺盲囊则发育为成体的中肠腺。中肠腺小管由４种不同类型的细胞（胚性细胞、吸收细胞、纤维细胞和泡状细胞）所组成