This study is concerned with description of larval stages of Pagurus granosimanus, P. hemphilli and P. hirsutiusculus. All three are found intertidally in Northern California. Descriptions are based on laboratory raised zoea and glaucothoe.

No description available.

Composed of a chromophore bound to an integral membrane protein (opsin), visual pigments are phenotypically characterized by the wavelength of maximal absorption (λmax). The underlying molecular mechanism controlling λmax is the interaction between the opsin amino acid sequence and the chromophore. While a plethora of studies have looked at structure/function relationships in vertebrate opsins, fewer studies have investigated similar issues in invertebrates. Furthermore, those few studies undertaken in invertebrate systems suggest different mechanisms of spectral tuning and photoactivation compared to vertebrate systems. This dissertation research is focused on expanding our knowledge of opsin evolution in invertebrate systems, particularly from non-insect taxa. First, issues related to opsin evolution and the maintenance of supposedly ‘non-functional’ genes were explored in a review of regressive and reverse evolution. Second, in order to place studies of crustacean opsin evolution in context, phylogenetic studies of two crustacean groups (Mysidae and Decapoda) were completed. Studies of Mysidae utilized 16S mtDNA, and 18S and 28S rDNA to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships and assess newly developed Bayesian methods of assessing pattern heterogeneity. Using this suite of genetic markers, there are incongruencies between current taxonomy and inferred phylogenetic relationships. Studies of Decapoda assessed phylogenetic relationships and estimated divergence times using 16S mtDNA, H3 nDNA, and 18S and 28S rDNA sequence data in conjunction with a set of eight fossil calibrations. Reconstructed phylogenies show support for two well supported nodes corresponding to the Pleocyemata and the informal ‘Reptantia’ and place the emergence of the Decapod lineage in the early Devonian (407 MYA. Finally, opsin sequences and spectral sensitivity data from species within the Mysidae and Decapoda were combined with previously characterized invertebrate sequences to investigate opsin evolution. Standard dN/dS methods did not detect any evidence of selection. Methods investigating selection on amino acid properties, however, identified four properties (coil tendencies, compressibility, power to be at the middle of the alpha helix, and refractive index) to be under positive destabilizing selection. These properties occurred mostly at sites in transmembrane helices and included residues previously identified to affect spectral tuning as well as identifying novel sites.

In the present study, aspects of the behavior and ecology of two sympathetic intertidal hermit crabs, Pagurus hirsutiusculus and Pagurus samuelis were studied with the intention of expanding the use of fitness set analysis to other species, particularly extending studies over the entire breeding season.

No description available.

This thesis deals with systematic revision, evolutionary trends, palaeoecology and migration patterns of crustaceans (Cirripedia and Decapoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin. Thesis is presented as a compilation of 9 papers that were published in scientific peer-reviewed journals and includes not only old museum material, but also numerous crustacean specimens which have been recovered in the last decade. Besides, short remarks on fossil crustaceans currently under study or in the process of being published (Paraclythia, Oncopareia, Acrothoracica) are also included in this thesis. In view of the fact that the fossil crustaceans from the BCB were most recently recorded in the turn of the 19th and the 20th centuries (and partially revised in the first half of the 20th century) and since the systematics and taxonomy have changed significantly, all papers presented here focus primarily on systematic revision and modern description. The essential part of the thesis thus deals with taphonomy and its bearing on the identification of fossil material. Thanks to a modern description, new species of Ctenocheles fritschi (axiidean shrimp), Archaeochionelasmus nekvasilovae (acorn barnacle), Myolepas reussi and Capitulum sklenari (pedunculate barnacles) were erected. C. fritschi is...

Deep-water trawling (>200 m deep) for crustaceans in the South West Indian Ocean (SWIO) yields catches of several species, including prawns (Haliporoides triarthrus, Aristaeomorpha foliacea, Aristeus antennatus and Aristeus virilis), langoustine (Metanephrops mozambicus), spiny lobster (Palinurus delagoae) and geryonid crab (Chaceon macphersoni). Infrequent deep-water trawling takes place off Tanzania, Kenya and Madagascar; however, well-established fisheries operate off Mozambique and South Africa. Regular trawling off South Africa started in the 1970’s, mainly targeting M .mozambicus and H. triarthrus. Catch and effort data for the South African fishery were regularly recorded in skipper logbooks over a 23 year period (1988 – 2010); this database was obtained from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) in order to assess abundance trends of M. mozambicus and H. triarthrus. Generalized linear models (GLM) were used to quantify the effects of year, month, depth and vessel on catch per unit effort (CPUE). By year, the standardized CPUE of M. mozambicus increased, and three factors (or a combination of them) could explain the trend: reduced effort saturation, improved gear and technology, or an increase in abundance. By month, CPUE peaked in July and was highest between depths of 300 and 399 m. The standardized CPUE of H. triarthrus fluctuated more by year than for M. mozambicus, possibly because it is a shorter-lived and faster growing species. The monthly CPUE peaked in March, and was highest between depths of 400 and 499 m. Totals of 2 033 M. mozambicus (1 041 males and 992 females) and 5 927 H. triarthrus (2 938 males and 2 989 females) were sampled at sea between December 2010 and March 2012, during quarterly trips on-board a fishing trawler. A GLM framework was used to explore their size composition, sex ratio variability, size at maturity and reproductive cycles. Male and female M. mozambicus size distributions were similar, but varied by month and decreased as depth increased. Female H. triarthrus were significant larger than males; size structure varied by month, but showed no change over depth. The sex ratio of M. mozambicus favoured males (1 : 0.89), but was close to parity in all months, except November when males predominated. H. triarthrus exhibited parity (1 : 1.002) with no significant variations in sex ratios by month. The proportion of egg-bearing M. mozambicus in the population declined between March and August (hatching period) and then increased until December (spawning period). The L₅₀ (length at 50% maturity) of M. mozambicus was estimated to be 49.4 mm carapace length (CL), and the smallest and largest observed egg-bearing females were 33.5 and 68.6 mm, respectively. No reproductively active female H. triarthrus were recorded during the sampling period. Growth parameter estimates for M. mozambicus (male and female combined) using Fabens method were K = 0.48 yearˉ¹ and L∞ = 76.4 mm CL. Estimates for the von Bertalanffy growth formula (VBGF) were: K = 0.45 yearˉ¹ and L∞ = 76.4 mm CL. H. triarthrus male and female growth parameter were estimated separately. For males they were K = 0.5 yearˉ¹ and L∞ = 46.6 mm CL using Fabens method, and K = 0.76 yearˉ¹ and L∞ = 46.6 mm CL using the VBGF. For females they were K = 0.3 yearˉ¹ and L∞ = 62.9 mm CL using Fabens method, and K = 0.47 yearˉ¹ and L∞ = 62.9 mm CL using the VBGF. CL to total weight regressions were calculated for both species; no significant differences were found between male and female M. mozambicus, although H. triarthrus females became larger and heavier than males. Comparisons with three earlier studies (Berry, 1969; Berry et al., 1975; Tomalin et al., 1997) revealed no major changes in the biology of either species off eastern South Africa. Stocks appear to be stable at current levels of fishing pressure, although some factors are not yet fully understood. Disturbance caused by continual trawling over a spatially limited fishing ground may affect distribution and abundance patterns, especially in M. mozambicus, which was less abundant in the depth range trawled most frequently. The absence of reproductive H. triarthrus in samples suggests that they occur elsewhere, and there is some evidence of a possible spawning migration northwards to Mozambique; this suggests that H. triarthrus is a shared stock between South Africa and Mozambique. The results from this thesis will add to the knowledge of M. mozambicus and H. triarthrus in the SWIO, and provide a basis for developing sustainable management strategies for the deep-water crustacean trawl fishery off eastern South Africa. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2013.

Deep-water prawns Haliporoides triarthrus and langoustines Metanephrops mozambicus are endemic to the South West Indian Ocean (SWIO) region and make up the largest proportion of deep-water crustacean trawl catches in Mozambique and South Africa. Despite their economic importance to these fisheries, little is known about their distribution, biology and genetic population structure. The metapopulation genetic variation of H. triarthrus and M. mozambicus was assessed from 220 specimens per species collected from three sites in Mozambique (Bazaruto A, Boa Paz and Inhaca), two sites in western Madagascar (Morombe and Tulear) and one site in eastern South Africa (Durban). Two fragments of the mitochondrial region were amplified using universal primers ribosomal 16S subunit (16S) and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI). From H. triarthrus, fragments of 569 base pair (bp) (16S) and 1300 bp (COI) were amplified. A total of 207 sequences (16S) and 151 sequences (COI) were recovered, and 69 and 78 haplotypes identified, respectively. Metanephrops mozambicus 16S and COI genes produced similar fragment lengths, and 112 (16S) and 127 haplotypes (COI) were recovered. Both species demonstrated high genetic diversity and significant population differentiation in the SWIO region. Two sister-species (or subspecies) of H. triarthrus were identified, one occurring along the African continental shelf and the other off western Madagascar. Furthermore, individual populations making up each lineage were genetically structured, as indicated by the absence of shared haplotypes, and should be recognized as demographically distinct subspecies. Both species have undergone recent population expansions, likely since the late Pleistocene. The large anti-cyclonic and cyclonic eddies prevalent in the Mozambique Channel, and the boundary area between these eddies and upper Agulhas Current are likely factors driving larval retention or return process, thus giving rise to the observed genetically structured populations. The findings from this study are unique for the SWIO region, and may lead to a paradigm shift in the way that deep-water crustacean stocks are perceived by fisheries managers – instead of single shared stocks, they comprise of many isolated ones, in spite of the dispersal potential of larvae in strong ocean current regimes. Thus stocks should be managed as small independent units. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

Orientador: Antonio Leão Castilho / Banca: Gustavo Monteiro Teixeira / Banca: Rogério Caetano da Costa / Resumo: Rimapenaeus constrictus apresenta ampla distribuição geográfica e os fatores ambientais que modulam o seu padrão de abundância e distribuição ainda são pouco entendidos. Os objetivos do presente estudo foram descrever os fatores ambientais atuantes sobre a região de Cananéia e compreender de maneira mais clara a influência da condição ambiental sobre a espécie R. constrictus. Os camarões foram obtidos a partir de coletas mensais na região de Cananéia, litoral sul do estado de São Paulo, de julho de 2012 a maio de 2014 com um barco camaroneiro equipado com redes do tipo double-rig, em isóbatas de 5 a 20 metros de profundidade. Os fatores ambientais foram obtidos na coluna d'água por meio de uma sonda Multiparâmetros e o sedimento com um pegador de Petersen. Foram coletados 1784 indivíduos distribuídos majoritariamente em salinidades acima de 30, em tipos de sedimento variáveis, desde silte + argila até areia grossa, em faixas de temperatura que variaram entre 17 e 29°C e nas menores concentrações de clorofila (até 14μg/L). Os fatores ambientais que mais influenciaram a distribuição da espécie foram salinidade e temperatura (Regressão Múltipla, p < 0,05). A abundância não diferiu entre as estações do ano, mas diferiu entre as estações amostrais (Tukey, p < 0,05). Cananéia apresentou-se como uma região dinâmica de características ambientais complexas. Rimapenaeus constrictus parece ser uma espécie bastante generalista em relação à escolha do substrato e, provavelmente, possui fisiologia do tipo euritermal e estenohalina, sendo a salinidade um fator considerado como limitante a sua distribuição / Abstract: Rimapenaeus constrictus presents a wide geographical distribution and environmental factors that influence their abundance and distribution pattern are still poorly understood. The aims of the present study were describe the environmental factors acting in Cananeia region and understand more clearly the influence of the environmental conditions on the R. constrictus. The shrimps were collected from monthly samples in Cananéia region, South coast of São Paulo state, from July 2012 through May 2014 using a shrimp boat outfitted with double-rig nets, at isobaths in 5 to 20 feet deep. Environmental factors were obtained in the water column by a Multiparameters probe and the sediment by a Petersen grab. Were collected 1784 individuals mainly distributed in salinities higher than 30 and variable types of sediment, since silt + clay until very coarse sandy, in temperatures ranging between 17 and 29°C and in the lower clorophyll concentrations (up to 14μg/L). The environmental factors that influenced the distribution of the species were salinity and temperature (Multiple Regression, p < 0.05). The abundance did not differ among the seasons, but differed among stations (Tukey, p < 0.05). Cananéia was presented as a dynamic region of complex environmental characteristics. Rimapenaeus constrictus seems to be a very generalist species in the choice of substrate and probably it has physiology eurythermal and stenohaline, and salinity was considered as a limiting factor in its distribution / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2015-10-06T13:03:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-02-27. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-10-06T13:19:00Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000847832_20160101.pdf: 795628 bytes, checksum: dc7ab7c34c4e568f8149aaff50b7139b (MD5) Bitstreams deleted on 2016-01-04T10:26:45Z: 000847832_20160101.pdf,. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2016-01-04T10:28:36Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000847832.pdf: 1734370 bytes, checksum: d8de76a485cd8158f641035d73cd6bec (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Rimapenaeus constrictus apresenta ampla distribuição geográfica e os fatores ambientais que modulam o seu padrão de abundância e distribuição ainda são pouco entendidos. Os objetivos do presente estudo foram descrever os fatores ambientais atuantes sobre a região de Cananéia e compreender de maneira mais clara a influência da condição ambiental sobre a espécie R. constrictus. Os camarões foram obtidos a partir de coletas mensais na região de Cananéia, litoral sul do estado de São Paulo, de julho de 2012 a maio de 2014 com um barco camaroneiro equipado com redes do tipo double-rig, em isóbatas de 5 a 20 metros de profundidade. Os fatores ambientais foram obtidos na coluna d'água por meio de uma sonda Multiparâmetros e o sedimento com um pegador de Petersen. Foram coletados 1784 indivíduos distribuídos majoritariamente em salinidades acima de 30, em tipos de sedimento variáveis, desde silte + argila até areia grossa, em faixas de temperatura que variaram entre 17 e 29°C e nas menores concentrações de clorofila (até 14μg/L). Os fatores ambientais que mais influenciaram a distribuição da espécie foram salinidade e temperatura (Regressão Múltipla, p < 0,05). A abundância não diferiu entre as estações do ano, mas diferiu entre as estações amostrais (Tukey, p < 0,05). Cananéia apresentou-se como uma região dinâmica de características ambientais complexas. Rimapenaeus constrictus parece ser uma espécie bastante generalista em relação à escolha do substrato e, provavelmente, possui fisiologia do tipo euritermal e estenohalina, sendo a salinidade um fator considerado como limitante a sua distribuição / Rimapenaeus constrictus presents a wide geographical distribution and environmental factors that influence their abundance and distribution pattern are still poorly understood. The aims of the present study were describe the environmental factors acting in Cananeia region and understand more clearly the influence of the environmental conditions on the R. constrictus. The shrimps were collected from monthly samples in Cananéia region, South coast of São Paulo state, from July 2012 through May 2014 using a shrimp boat outfitted with double-rig nets, at isobaths in 5 to 20 feet deep. Environmental factors were obtained in the water column by a Multiparameters probe and the sediment by a Petersen grab. Were collected 1784 individuals mainly distributed in salinities higher than 30 and variable types of sediment, since silt + clay until very coarse sandy, in temperatures ranging between 17 and 29°C and in the lower clorophyll concentrations (up to 14μg/L). The environmental factors that influenced the distribution of the species were salinity and temperature (Multiple Regression, p < 0.05). The abundance did not differ among the seasons, but differed among stations (Tukey, p < 0.05). Cananéia was presented as a dynamic region of complex environmental characteristics. Rimapenaeus constrictus seems to be a very generalist species in the choice of substrate and probably it has physiology eurythermal and stenohaline, and salinity was considered as a limiting factor in its distribution / FAPESP: 2013/14174-0