Biochemical composition as a growth predictor in male west-coast rock lobster (Jasus lalandii)

Abstract

The biochemical composition of the hepatopancreas and abdominal muscle tissue of adult male Jasus lalandii in two size classes was examined on a monthly and moult-cycle basis over four years to determine the accumulation and utilization of the major reserves in these tissues. The possibility of using this information to predict moult increment, defined as the increase in carapace length, was examined. Two study areas were selected to provide contrasting information on high and low growth rates, and the annual moult increments in these areas were determined from tag-and-recapture studies. The biochemical composition of abdominal muscle did not meet the prerequisites for a predictive index of growth. Hepatopancreas moisture content (lowest values measured during accumulation of reserves) showed a negative correlation with growth increment. Peak lipid content (as both percentage and absolute values) showed a positive correlation with measured moult increment. The relationship between percentage of lipid (both size classes combined) and moult increment was highly significant. Notwithstanding the limitations introduced by the small number of high-growth data points in this study, it appears that hepatopancreas lipid content can be used as a simple and robust predictive indicator of growth in adult male J. lalandii.

Influence of temperature on the zoeal development and elemental composition of the cancrid crab, Cancer setosus Molina, 1782 from Pacific South America

“…Anger and Harms, 1990;Minagawa et al, 1993). Both, lipids and proteins serve as the most important energy reserves in decapod crustaceans (Cockcroft, 1997). The C:N values also shows a typical short term pattern described for several brachyurans, with low values after moulting and an increase on the following days Anger, 1988;Minagawa et al, 1993) and a slight decrease towards moulting.…”

Biochemical contents of the ovary and hepatopancreas of <em>Uca longisignalis</em> and <em>Uca</em> nr. <em>minax</em>Contenido bioquímico del ovario y hepatopáncreas de <i>Uca longisignalis</i> y <i>Uca nr. minax</i>

“…Changes in total hepatopancreatic lipid levels may occur during late intermolt and early premolt (Giese, 1966;O'Connor and Gilbert, 1968;Bollenbacher et al, 1972;Cockcroft, 1997). For example, Cockcroft (1997) found lipid concentration was lowest during the molt period of the rock lobster and highest during intermolt and premolt.…”

“…For example, Cockcroft (1997) found lipid concentration was lowest during the molt period of the rock lobster and highest during intermolt and premolt. While our molt staging was not fine-scaled enough to differentiate the phase of intermolt for our sampled crabs, it was clear the population we sampled was not in a molt period.…”

Spatial variability in growth and prey availability of lobsters in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands

“…In the case of proximate composition analysis, this was not necessarily unexpected because the hepatopancreas, the site of major storage reserves in decapod crustaceans (Dall 1981, Johnston et al 1998, is a more sensitive indicator of crustacean nutritional stress than abdominal tissue (Trendall & Prescott 1989, Cockcroft 1997 …”

“…Nutritional condition can be assessed using proximate composition ana lysis because lipids are important stores of energy (Chang & O'Connor 1983, Torres et al 1994, Drazen 2002 and protein synthesis is required for growth (Claybrook 1983). Within palinurid lobsters, hepatopancreas lipid content showed a positive correlation with growth of Jasus lalandii (Cockcroft 1997) and abdominal tissue and hepa topancreas protein concentrations were significantly lower in starving Panulirus longipes (Dall 1974 (Hobson et al 1993, Adams & Sterner 2000. However, the δ 15 N value of a consumer reflects not only its trophic level but also the δ 15 N value of the primary producers at the base of the food web (e.g.…”