O gênero Aegla Leach, 1820 representa o único táxon dentro de Decapoda Anomura com representantes adaptados exclusivamente a ambientes de água doce. As eglas são endêmicas da América do Sul e vivem em ambientes lóticos com alto nível de oxigenação. Estudos comparativos da morfologia de jovens recém-eclodidos podem contribuir para estabelecer relações de afinidade entre as cerca de 70 espécies já descritas que compõem a família Aeglidae. Porém, o número de trabalhos que descrevem a morfologia em detalhe nesta fase de vida é ainda escasso. O objetivo do presente estudo foi descrever detalhadamente a morfologia externa dos jovens recém-eclodidos das espécies Aegla paulensis e Aegla perobae, com base em Microscopia Óptica e em Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV). Fêmeas ovígeras foram coletadas e transferidas para o laboratório a fim de se obter os jovens recém-eclodidos dos ovos. A descrição detalhada da morfologia do jovem recém-eclodido incluiu a carapaça, o abdome, os apêndices cefalotorácicos (antênula, antena, mandíbula, maxílula, maxila, maxilípedes, pereópodes) e a região do télson juntamente com os urópodes. As cerdas foram analisadas em detalhe quanto ao número, localização e tipo morfológico com o auxílio da MEV. Os resultados obtidos foram analisados e comparados com os das espécies que já tiveram seus jovens recém-eclodidos descritos e também com os adultos. As principais descobertas do estudo foram: as lineae aeglicae, os pleópodes rudimentares, a riqueza de tipos de cerdas e os poros sensoriais / Genus Aegla Leach, 1820 represents the one taxon within Decapoda Anomura with representatives exclusively adapted to freshwater environments. Aeglids are endemic to South America and they live in lotic environments with high levels of dissolved oxygen. Comparative studies of the newly-hatched juvenile morphology may contribute to establish affinity relations among the 70 species of the Aeglidae family already described. However, the number of studies which describe the morphology at this life phase in detail is still scarce. The objective of this study was to describe the external morphology of the newly-hatched juvenile of Aegla paulensis and Aegla perobae in detail, using Light Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Newly-hatched juveniles were obtained from ovigerous females kept under laboratory conditions. Detailed description of the newly-hatched juveniles included the carapace, the abdomen, the cephalothoracic appendages (antennule, antenna, mandible, maxillule, maxilla, maxillipeds, pereiopods), and the telson-uropods region. SEM was used to analyze setae number, location and type. The results were analyzed and compared with those from newly-hatched juveniles already described and with adults. The main findings in this study were: lineae aeglicae, rudimentary pleopods, setae morphology diversity, and pores sensilla.

The giant freshwater shrimp, Macrobrachium rosenbergii is a large species of prawn grown extensively in aquaculture settings. A social hierarchy exists within the males of this species, representing three distinct male morphotypes. These male morphotypes differ in their behavior, physiology, and morphology and include the largest blue-clawed males (BC males), moderately- sized orange-clawed males (OC males), and the undifferentiated small-clawed males (SM males). All individuals of this species perform grooming behaviors to rid themselves of body fouling which can impede important functions such as movement, respiration, chemoreception, and reproduction. Grooming behaviors in crustaceans often utilize specialized structures called setae, which aid in the removal of fouling material such as debris, algae, and epibionts. The grooming behaviors of M. rosenbergii were examined in this thesis to better understand the importance of these behaviors. Grooming behaviors were commonly seen among all sexes and morphotypes of M. rosenbergii along with other behaviors such as searching for food/habitat, reproductive attempts, and agonistic interactions (N=94). As a species, there were no differences in the regions of the body groomed in terms of frequency and duration. In general, the most commonly used grooming appendage, the first pereopods, and the antennae were most frequently groomed. The antennae are an important site of chemosensory reception and were likely frequently groomed to maintain this sensory input. The internal sites for respiration, the gills, were groomed for the longest amount of time, indicating the importance of removing fouling from these structures. Of the females and male morphotypes, the largest and most dominant BC males performed the most grooming actions and spent the most time grooming, compared to other individuals within the species. This high grooming time budget (35%) is likely due to their position within the social hierarchy; these males must maintain their body along with the structures which allow them to maintain their dominance such as large chelipeds used in territorial interactions with other males. Grooming behaviors in crustaceans were previously hypothesized as secondary behaviors, only occurring when other behaviors were not prioritized. Results from this study provide further evidence of this hypothesis; although grooming is considered an important behavior to remove fouling and prevent interruptions in functions such as respiration, locomotion, and reproduction, it’s frequency and duration decreases when other behaviors prove more beneficial. Results from this thesis continue to validate the adaptive value of grooming in the changing environmental conditions crustaceans experience on a daily basis. These behaviors remove fouling from the body and promote locomotion, respiration, chemoreception, and reproduction. In addition, shrimps grown in aquaculture settings may experience increased fouling when in grow-out ponds. This increased exposure to fouling organisms and debris may lead to an increased mortality of profitable shrimps. Understanding the fouling pressures and grooming abilities of these shrimps during vulnerable times such as placement in grow-out ponds and intermolt periods may increase yield and profitability for aquaculture farmers.

O gênero Aegla Leach, 1820 representa o único táxon dentro de Decapoda Anomura com representantes adaptados exclusivamente a ambientes de água doce. As eglas são endêmicas da América do Sul e vivem em ambientes lóticos com alto nível de oxigenação. Estudos comparativos da morfologia de jovens recém-eclodidos podem contribuir para estabelecer relações de afinidade entre as cerca de 70 espécies já descritas que compõem a família Aeglidae. Porém, o número de trabalhos que descrevem a morfologia em detalhe nesta fase de vida é ainda escasso. O objetivo do presente estudo foi descrever detalhadamente a morfologia externa dos jovens recém-eclodidos das espécies Aegla paulensis e Aegla perobae, com base em Microscopia Óptica e em Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV). Fêmeas ovígeras foram coletadas e transferidas para o laboratório a fim de se obter os jovens recém-eclodidos dos ovos. A descrição detalhada da morfologia do jovem recém-eclodido incluiu a carapaça, o abdome, os apêndices cefalotorácicos (antênula, antena, mandíbula, maxílula, maxila, maxilípedes, pereópodes) e a região do télson juntamente com os urópodes. As cerdas foram analisadas em detalhe quanto ao número, localização e tipo morfológico com o auxílio da MEV. Os resultados obtidos foram analisados e comparados com os das espécies que já tiveram seus jovens recém-eclodidos descritos e também com os adultos. As principais descobertas do estudo foram: as lineae aeglicae, os pleópodes rudimentares, a riqueza de tipos de cerdas e os poros sensoriais / Genus Aegla Leach, 1820 represents the one taxon within Decapoda Anomura with representatives exclusively adapted to freshwater environments. Aeglids are endemic to South America and they live in lotic environments with high levels of dissolved oxygen. Comparative studies of the newly-hatched juvenile morphology may contribute to establish affinity relations among the 70 species of the Aeglidae family already described. However, the number of studies which describe the morphology at this life phase in detail is still scarce. The objective of this study was to describe the external morphology of the newly-hatched juvenile of Aegla paulensis and Aegla perobae in detail, using Light Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Newly-hatched juveniles were obtained from ovigerous females kept under laboratory conditions. Detailed description of the newly-hatched juveniles included the carapace, the abdomen, the cephalothoracic appendages (antennule, antenna, mandible, maxillule, maxilla, maxillipeds, pereiopods), and the telson-uropods region. SEM was used to analyze setae number, location and type. The results were analyzed and compared with those from newly-hatched juveniles already described and with adults. The main findings in this study were: lineae aeglicae, rudimentary pleopods, setae morphology diversity, and pores sensilla.

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Adhezní schopnosti gekona byly předmětem mnoha studií a inspirací pro vytvoření mnoha napodobenin. Tato práce navrhuje vlastní verzi umělých gekoních struktur ve tvaru mikroskopických pilířů, které by vykazovaly adhezní vlastnosti srovnatelné s tlapkou gekona. Vyrobeny byli struktury z polymeru Parylen C pomocí fotolitografie a technik na leptání křemíku. Dalším cílem bylo různými metodami pro modifikaci povrchu a charakterizaci vytvořených struktur, které určí adhezní síly těchto povrchů, před a po modifikacích.