One approach to investigating functional attributes of the central complex is to relate its various elaborations to pancrustacean phylogeny, to taxon-specific behavioral repertoires and ecological settings. Here we review morphological similarities between the central complex of stomatopod crustaceans and the central complex of dicondylic insects. We discuss whether their central complexes possess comparable functional properties, despite the phyletic distance separating these taxa, with mantis shrimp (Stomatopoda) belonging to the basal branch of Eumalacostraca. Stomatopods possess the most elaborate visual receptor system in nature and display a fascinating behavioral repertoire, including refined appendicular dexterity such as independently moving eyestalks. They are also unparalleled in their ability to maneuver during both swimming and substrate locomotion. Like other pancrustaceans, stomatopods possess a set of midline neuropils, called the central complex, which in dicondylic insects have been shown to mediate the selection of motor actions for a range of behaviors. As in dicondylic insects, the stomatopod central complex comprises a modular protocerebral bridge (PB) supplying decussating axons to a scalloped fan-shaped body (FB) and its accompanying ellipsoid body (EB), which is linked to a set of paired noduli and other recognized satellite regions. We consider the functional implications of these attributes in the context of stomatopod behaviors, particularly of their eyestalks that can move independently or conjointly depending on the visual scene.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-12-12Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:19:45Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 nunes_et_dr_rcla.pdf: 1685568 bytes, checksum: fc39ac0ad20fd32933d7b0fda0680782 (MD5) / O hepatopâncreas dos crustáceos, também conhecido como glândula digestiva, passa por modificações morfo-funcionais em resposta a fatores como dieta, variações de temperatura, ciclo de muda, estágio reprodutivo e contaminação. Este trabalho objetivou analisar, morfologicamente, através de técnicas de microscopia eletrônica e de luz, o hepatopâncreas de fêmeas adultas do camarão-rosa Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis, em dois diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento gonadal, coletadas em Guarapari, Espírito Santo, Brasil, bem como relacionar esta espécie às condições ambientais, comparativamente ao camarão Xiphopenaeus kroyeri. A microscopia eletrônica de varredura evidenciou hepatopâncreas de tamanhos semelhantes nas fêmeas com gônadas desenvolvidas (DE) e naquelas esgotadas (ES), apresentando-se como um órgão não-lobado e recoberto por tecido conjuntivo com poros. Histologicamente, foram identificados cinco tipos celulares nos túbulos: células E (embrionárias), R (reabsortivas), F (fibrilares), B (vesiculares) e M (basais). Comparado às DE, o epitélio hepatopancreático das fêmeas ES mostrou-se mais escamoso, acidófilo, delimitando um amplo lúmen que contem partes das células B e R; nestas, ainda, as células M estiveram mais evidentes. As células R mostraram escassez em organelas, mitocôndrias apicais, vacúolos marcados para polissacarídeos ácidos, além de gotas lipídicas vistas principalmente nas fêmeas ES. As células F, fortemente marcadas pelo azul de bromofenol, apresentaram vesículas de secreção próximas às microvilosidades, retículo endoplasmático rugoso bem desenvolvido, em arranjo circular ou com cisternas dilatadas. As células B foram marcadas pela presença de grandes corpos digestivos com conteúdo polissacarídico neutro, sendo eliminado, posteriormente... / The hepatopancreas of crustaceans, also known as the digestive gland, undergoes morphological and functional changes in response to factors such as diet, temperature variations, moult cycle, reproductive stage and contamination. This study aimed to analyze, morphologically, by means of electron and light microscopies, the hepatopancreas of adult females of the pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis at two different stages of gonadal development, collected in the southern coast of Espirito Santo, Brazil, as well as to relate this species to the environmental conditions, compared to Xiphopenaeus kroyeri shrimp. The scanning electron microscopy revealed similar size in the hepatopancreas of females with developed gonads (DE) and those with exhausted gonads (ES). It presents as a non-lobed organ covered by connective tissue with pores. Histologically, five cell types were identified in tubules: E (embryonic), R (reabsorptive), F (fibrillar), B (vesicular) and M (basal). Compared to those DE females, the hepatopancreas from ES females showed a more flattened epithelium, acidophilus and delimiting a large lumen which contains parts of R and B cells; in these, also, the M cells were more evident. R cells showed shortage in organelles, apical mitochondria, vacuoles marked for acid polysaccharides, and lipid droplets seen mainly in female ES. F cells were strongly marked by bromophenol blue and presented secretory vesicles near the microvilli, well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum in circular arrangement, or even with dilated cistern. B cells were marked by the presence of large digestive bodies with neutral polysaccharide content, being later eliminated inside the tubular lumen. The observed features also allowed us to infer the possible stages of moult in which the shrimps were. Although some... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / O conhecimento sobre o correto regime alimentar das larvas e pÃslarvas dos crustÃceos Decapoda à considerado essencial para o sucesso no cultivo larval. InformaÃÃes sobre o desenvolvimento e morfologia dos apÃndices bucais e estÃmago destes crustÃceos tÃm auxiliado na identificaÃÃo de alimentos e condiÃÃes de cultivo satisfatÃrias para o aumento da sobrevivÃncia e do crescimento durante o desenvolvimento larval. O desenvolvimento da estrutura do estÃmago e da funÃÃo digestiva foram examinados em larvas e pÃs-larvas de Litopenaeus vannamei, Lepidophthalmus siriboia, Callichirus major, Petrolisthes armatus, Sesarma curacaoense e S. rectum. O estÃmago do protozoea de L. vannamei à muito simples, sem vÃlvula cÃrdio-pilÃrica e filtro pilÃrico rudimentar. Nos misis, o filtro pilÃrico se torna funcional. No juvenil I surgem calhas e dentes laterais pouco desenvolvidos. Em L. siriboia, os estÃmagos dos zoeae estÃo aparentemente despreparados para alimentaÃÃo. No megalopa e juvenil I o estÃmago se torna complexo, com moinho gÃstrico. Nos zoeae de P. armatus, S. curacaoense e S. rectum, os estÃmagos possuem vÃlvula cÃrdio-pilÃrica e filtro pilÃrico morfologicamente funcionais e nos estÃgios megalopa e juvenil I o moinho gÃstrico à complexo. Em C. major, os estÃmagos dos zoeae se mostram especializados exibindo algumas estruturas rÃgidas, mas nÃo apresentam moinho gÃstrico. Esta estrutura surge no megalopa e juvenil I. A partir das caracterÃsticas morfolÃgicas presentes em cada estÃgio larval sugerem-se os seguintes tipos de alimento de acordo com a capacidade de processamento do estÃmago: gelatinoso (microalgas) para os protozoeae; flexÃvel (nÃuplios de Artemia e rotÃferos) para os zoeae e misis; e flexÃvel e rÃgido (zooplÃncton, poliquetas, moluscos) para megalopa e juvenil I. A organizaÃÃo dos estÃmagos à comparada entre outros representantes dos Decapoda e a relaÃÃo entre a morfologia e o hÃbito alimentar à discutida / Food is considered critical for the successful culture of decapod larvae. Information on the development of larval mouthparts and foregut have contributed for identification of suitable foods and for rearing conditions to enhance survival and growth during the larval progress. The development of foregut structure and digestive function was examined in Litopenaeus vannamei, Lepidophthalmus siriboia, Callichirus major, Petrolisthes armatus, Sesarma curacaoense and S. rectum larvae and post larvae. The protozoeal foregut of L. vannamei is simple, lacking cardio-pyloric valve and rudimental filter press. In mysis, the filter press is developed and become functional. In the juvenile, groove and small lateral teeth arise. In L. siriboia, the zoeal foreguts have no apparently feeding function. But, the megalopa and juvenile have a complex foregut, with gastric mill well developed. The zoeal stages of P. armatus, S. curacaoense and S. rectum have a functional cardio-pyloric valve and filter press. The megalopa and juvenile stages of these species have an adult-type gastric mill. In C. major, the foregut of the zoeae is specialized, with appearance of some rigid structures, but no gastric mill was found. This calcified structure arises in megalopa and grows on the juvenile stage. The morphological features exhibited in each larval stage suggest the following food types in agreement with the capacity of processing of the foregut: gelatinous (microalgae) for the protozoeal stage; flexible (nauplii of Artemia and rotifers) for the zoeal and mysis stages; and flexible or hard (zooplancton, polychaets and mollusks) for megalopa and juvenile I. The foregut structure was also compared to other Decapoda and the relationship between morphology and feeding behavior was discussed

98f. / Submitted by Ana Hilda Fonseca (anahilda@ufba.br) on 2013-04-10T15:28:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação versão final. 2012.pdf: 2926493 bytes, checksum: 7c8eb202f8e1d49db66d28957c7f2ad6 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Hilda Fonseca(anahilda@ufba.br) on 2013-05-10T15:54:03Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação versão final. 2012.pdf: 2926493 bytes, checksum: 7c8eb202f8e1d49db66d28957c7f2ad6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-05-10T15:54:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação versão final. 2012.pdf: 2926493 bytes, checksum: 7c8eb202f8e1d49db66d28957c7f2ad6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / CAPES / Devido a aspectos nutricionais e socioeconômicos os crustáceos possuem grande importância no cenário nacional por serem alimentos usualmente consumidos na região costeira. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as concentrações de elementos essenciais e não essenciais em amostras de caranguejo, siri e aratu, na forma catada, comercializados em feiras livres na cidade de Salvador, Bahia, Brasil, de forma a traçar um perfil comparativo em termos de concentrações macro e microelementos. As amostras foram adquiridas nos principais pontos de comercialização de pescados da cidade Feira de São Joaquim, Mercado Popular, Feira dois de Julho e CEASA, sendo oriundas de diversas regiões da Baía de Todos os Santos. No pré-tratamento, as amostras foram secas em liofilizador, a moagem foi realizada com moinhos de bolas e o preparo das amostras foi realizado utilizando forno microondas com cavidade, usando uma mistura de ácido nítrico e peróxido de hidrogênio. Para a determinação dos elementos foi empregada a espectrometria de emissão óptica com plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP OES). As concentrações encontradas nas amostras variaram expressivamente mesmo quando as mesmas foram indicadas ser de mesmo local de captura. Foram obtidos os seguintes teores médios de concentração, em μg.g-1: para aratu Cu (64,5 ± 1,5), Fe (65,7 ± 2,0), Mn (2,91 ± 0,25), Zn (163 ± 4); para as amostras de caranguejo Cu (53,3 ± 2,5), Fe (69,8 ± 6,0), Mn (3,69 ± 0,31), Zn (309 ± 6); e para as amostras de siri Cu (67,4 ± 3,3), Fe (31,5 ± 3,6), Mn (7,48 ± 2,51), Zn (184 ± 8). As concentrações de todos os elementos analisados mostraram contribuir para o teor de ingestão diária recomendada (IDR). No entanto, as concentrações de Cu e Zn para todas as amostras estão acima do limite máximo de tolerância estabelecido pela ANVISA. Estudos complementares estão sendo realizados visando contribuir para o desenvolvimento de medidas práticas de gerenciamento de modo a proteger a saúde da população. / Salvador

FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a composiÃÃo centesimal, o perfil de Ãcidos graxos e o valor calÃrico de trÃs espÃcies de crustÃceos do Estado do CearÃ. As espÃcies estudadas sÃo as mais comercializadas: lagosta espinhosa (Panulirus argus), camarÃo branco (Litopenaeus vannamei), caranguejo uÃÃ, (Ucides cordatus).Os resultados obtidos demonstraram elevados teores de umidade na vÃscera de caranguejo. As carnes de lagosta e de caranguejo apresentaram os maiores percentuais de proteÃna. Os teores de lipÃdios totais foram maiores no hepatopÃncreas de lagosta.Quanto Ãs cinzas, os maiores valores foram detectados na cabeÃa de camarÃo e na carne de caranguejo. O maior valor calÃrico foi encontrado no hepatopÃncreas de lagosta. Na carne e hepatopÃncreas de lagosta destacaram-se os Ãcidos graxos: palmÃtico, esteÃrico, olÃico. Na fraÃÃo de lipÃdios neutros de cabeÃa de camarÃo, os quatros Ãcidos graxos majoritÃrios foram linolÃico, palmÃtico, olÃico e DHA. Nos fosfolipÃdios dessa amostra, os Ãcidos palmÃtico, linolÃico, olÃico e esteÃrico foram os majoritÃrios. / This study aimed to determine the chemical composition, the profile fatty acids and caloric value of three species of crustaceans of the State of CearÃ. The species are the most commercialized, spiny lobster (Panulirus argus), white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), crab uÃÃ (Ucides cordatus). The results showed high levels of moisture in Crab viscera. The meat of lobster and crab presented higher percentages of protein. The levels of total lipids were higher in lagosta.Quanto hepatopancreas of the ash, the highest values ​​were detected the head of shrimp and crab meat. The caloric value was greater found in the hepatopancreas of lobster. In meat and lobster hepatopancreas highlights are the fatty acids: palmitic, stearic, oleic. In the fraction of lipids neutral shrimp head, the four major fatty acids were linoleic, palmitic, oleic and DHA. Phospholipids in this sample, the fatty palmitic, linoleic, oleic and stearic acids were the major ones.

Abstract Arthropod photoreceptors are versatile sense organs. Any investigation of these organs has to consider that their structure and functional limitations at the moment of fixation depend on many factors: species, sex, developmental and nutritional state of the animal, time of day and ambient light. The microscopic image of an arthropod photoreceptor is always a sample frozen in time and space. Quite often publications on arthropod photoreceptors only provide the name of the species studied, but nothing beyond that. At least the developmental status of the study animals ought to be noted, possibly even the sex and body size. Forty publications on insect and 54 on crustacean photoreceptors were checked for the information that was given about the investigated animals: Out of these papers 40% provide only information on the name of the studied species and nothing else. The aim of this thesis, thus, was to investigate, to what extent the developmental state and the sex of the animal as well as the ambient light conditions affect the structure of the eye of a given species. Five species of arthropods were chosen: (a) the semi-terrestrial isopod Ligia exotica and two aquatic Branchiuran fishlice, Argulus foliaceus and A. coregoni, to represent the Crustacea, and (b) the stick insect Carausius morosus and the spittle bug Philaenus spumarius, both terrestrial, to represent the Insecta. The addition of new ommatidia was studied in a paper on L. exotica, which also dealt with the site of newly added ommatidia. It was found that all of these species had two sessile, large compound eyes firmly positioned on their heads (but fishlouse compound eyes were bathed in haemocoelic liquid). In all species, the compound eye was found to be of the apposition type. The gross structural organization of the ommatidia stayed approximately the same during the whole post-embryonic development. Lateral ocelli of the A. coregoni nauplius eye changed from elongated to spherical between the metanauplius and the 8th stage pre-adult. The sex of the specimens was not found to affect the structure of the eye. In all species, it turned out that the larger the animal and hence the eye, the better its sensitivity. The addition of new ommatidia in the L. exotica compound eye was concluded to take place in the anterior and ventral marginal areas of the eye.

Crustaceans have been used extensively as models for studying the nervous system. Members of the Order Decapoda, particularly the larger species such as lobsters and crayfish, have large segmented abdomens that are positioned by tonic flexor and extensor muscles. Importantly, the innervation of these tonic muscles is known in some detail. Each abdominal segment in crayfish is innervated bilaterally by three sets of nerves. The anterior pair of nerves in each ganglion controls the swimmeret appendages and sensory supply. The middle pair of nerves innervates the tonic extensor muscles and the regional sensory supply. The superficial branch of the most posterior pair of nerves in each ganglion is exclusively motor and supplies the tonic flexor muscles of that segment. The extension and flexion motor nerves contain six motor neurons, each of which is different in axonal diameter and thus produces impulses of different amplitude. Motor programs controlling each muscle can be characterized by the identifiable motor neurons that are activated. Early work in this field discovered that specific central interneurons control the abdominal positioning motor neurons. These interneurons were first referred to as "command neurons" and later as "command elements." Stimulation of an appropriate command element causes a complex, widespread output involving dozens of motor neurons. The output can be patterned even though the stimulus to the command element is of constant interval. The command elements are identifiable cells. When a stimulus is repeated in a command element, from either the same individual or from different individuals, the output is substantially the same. This outcome depends upon several factors. First, the command elements are not only identifiable, but they make many synapses with other neurons, and the synapses are substantially invariant. There are separate flexion-producing and extension-producing command elements. Abdominal flexion-producing command elements excite other flexion elements and inhibit extensor command elements. The extension producing elements do the opposite. These interactions insure that interneurons of a particular class (flexion- or extension-producing) synaptically recruit perhaps twenty others of similar output, and that command elements promoting the opposing movements are inhibited. This strong reciprocity and the recruitment of similar command elements give a powerful motor program that appears to mimic behavior.

The peninsula effect is a pattern of diversity wherein species richness decreases along a peninsula from base to tip and is attributed to three mechanisms: historical processes, habitat gradients, and immigration-extinction equilibrium. Numerous studies have reported conflicting results involving the existence, cause, and validity of the peninsula effect in part because they did not account for effects of history or habitat on species richness patterns and because most previous research focused on organisms that actively disperse, which could confound results with behavioral habitat selection. Florida poses an excellent opportunity to study the peninsula effect because of its geological history and its unique ridges have similar histories (e.g. age, elevation, and sediment). Habitat changes down the peninsula, from a warm temperate climate in the north to a subtropical climate in the south. I studied freshwater crustaceans in isolated wetlands because crustaceans are diverse and disperse passively among these discrete habitats. My study design and statistical analyses controlled for two of the three mechanisms (habitat and history) that may generate a peninsula effect to better test for the third hypothesis (immigration-extinction equilibrium) on the Florida peninsula. Thirty-one wetlands were sampled for crustaceans monthly from November 2004 through April 2005, or until a site dried. Human disturbance was minimized by choosing isolated, ephemeral wetlands located within state reserves, parks, and forests located on four major ridges: Trail, Brooksville, Mount Dora and Lake Wales. I measured several environmental variables to assess habitat variation among sites. Limnological parameters included temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, chlorophyll á, pheophytin, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total hardness. Other habitat variables included surface area, distance to nearest water body, fish presence or absence, hydroperiod, total transmitted light and canopy openness. Crustacean species were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic level (typically species) and recorded as present or absent. A total of 53 different crustaceans were identified, including 41 cladocerans, 10 copepods, and 2 ostracods. In a multiple regression, environmental variables and sampling effort accounted for 57% of the variation in species richness. Regression of remaining variation (residuals) against latitude, which measures position along the peninsula, was not statistically significant. The same pattern was obtained when the sequence of regressions was reversed. Therefore, the peninsula effect does affect the species richness of freshwater crustaceans inhabiting ephemeral wetlands on Florida's ridges. Instead, variation in species richness was determined mainly by habitat differences, particularly the complex interaction of phosphorus levels, isolation, fish presence or absence, and hydroperiod. This study may serve as a model for more thorough analyses of mechanisms (history, habitat, and immigration-extinction) of a peninsula effect in other taxa.

The studies presented in this thesis were designed to investigate the effects of reduced sea water pH on the behaviour of intertidal decapod crustaceans, both within the context of the variations occurring naturally in the pH of rock pool habitats, and in relation to predicted changes to ocean pH resulting from ocean acidification and potential carbon dioxide (CO2) leaks from carbon capture storage (CCS) sites. Recent studies on marine fish have shown behavioural disruptions as a result of increased CO2 concentrations in sea water and reduced pH, but the effects on crustaceans are as yet unknown. The first two studies investigated the effects of reduced pH upon the olfactory behaviour of the prawn Palaemon elegans and the hermit crab Pagurus bernhardus, focussing on their responses to food odours. Short-term (five day) exposures to highly reduced pH (pHNBS = 6.60, 6.80) revealed disruptions to the chemo-sensory behaviour of both species with a reduction in their ‘sniffing’ response, and the inability of P. bernhardus to locate the chemical cue. This was also accompanied by elevated haemolymph chloride ions. in In a further study P. bernhardus was subjected to a longer exposure (60 days) and to a range of pH levels (pHNBS = 8.00, 7.90, 7.70, 7.35 and 6.80) in order to detect a threshold for the behavioural disruptions observed, and to determine if there would be any sign of acclimation over a longer period. A clear gradient in the disruptions to the chemo-sensory responses and survival rates of the hermit crabs, and disruption to a physiological marker (elevated haemolymph calcium ions), was found. Possible thresholds for disruption were also identified at levels that match predictions for ocean acidification and leaks from proposed CO2 CCS sites. Some of the crabs in the lower pH treatments exhibited a recovery in their responses by day 60, possibly indicating an acclimation effect. The presence of disruption to haemolymph ion concentrations in both the short and longer term hermit crab studies suggest a mechanism for behavioural disruption. In a final study the effects of reduced sea water pH on a more complex behaviour, involving decision making, was investigated. Reduced sea water pH was shown to disrupt the shell assessment and selection behaviour of P. bernhardus affecting its decision making processes, although not all crabs were affected in the same way. The work presented here therefore demonstrates that reduced sea water pH could have disruptive effects upon both information gathering, via chemo-sensory processes, and decision making in intertidal crustaceans. The mechanism responsible is unlikely to be due to changes in the odour molecule, or physical damage to receptor organs. Rather the observed disruptions could be due (a) to ionic changes, causing metabolic depression or interference with neurotransmitter function, or (b) to disruption to chemoreception per se. Such disturbances to key behavioural processes have implications for inter and intraspecific species interactions and population dynamics in the marine environment. Changes in pH are already experienced by intertidal animals for short periods when rock pools are emersed, but future anthropogencially-induced reductions in sea water pH are likely to cause more sustained and widespread disruptions with, as yet, unpredictable consequences. The differential responses observed between individuals in these studies may warrant further investigation as such differences may provide the basis for selection and adaptation to projected changes in ocean pH.

The main subject of my papers has been the phylum Tardigrada, with particular emphasis on the Antarctic fauna. While this is one of the ‘lesser known phyla’ the group forms an important element of Antarctic non-marine ecosystems. My work has centred on four interrelated themes: i) taxonomy, predominantly Tardigrada and with an Antarctic bias though including wider global species and high taxon groupings (I have also worked on other taxa such as Fungi-imperfecti and freshwater invertebrates); ii) biodiversity of tardigrades, particularly Antarctic habitats; iii) data-based studies based on the terrestrial Tardigrada and Antarctic freshwater crustaceans; and iv) biogeographic analysis of these databases. The thesis presented consists of papers published in major, peer-reviewed journals, along with book chapters published and in press. Several of my papers have been cited 10-30 times according to the ISI Web of Science citation system. Highlights of my work include being the first to publish a paper on the global terrestrial biogeography of a phylum and showing the extant limno-terrestrial tardigrade fauna reflect the early tectonic break-up of the Laurasia, West and East Gondwana super continents between 65 and 135 million years ago.