Growth and respiration during the larval development of a tropical spider crab, Libinla ferreirae (Decapoda: Majidae)

Abstract

Larvae of the tropical spider crab hbinia ferreirae were reared in the laboratory from hatching to metamorphosis, and their growth (dry weight, DW; ash-free dry weight, AFDW) and respiration rates were measured. Variations in the rates and patterns of growth were compared in 2 hatches (larvae from different females).The larvae of the more viable hatch grew continuously during the 2 zoeal stages and the beginning of the megalopa stage, with particularly high instantaneous growth rates in the beginning of each moult cycle. The megalopa showed decreasing biomass values prior to metamorphosis. Ash content increased significantly during and shortly after each ecdysis, then remained constant (zoeae) or decreased slightly (megalopa). In contrast, organic substance (AFDW), increased throughout most of the moult cycle. Respiration (oxygen consumption per individual) increased during development of the zoeal stages, and in the megalopa it followed a sinusoidal pattern. Weight-specific respiration rates were high near ecdysis and low during the intermoult stages of the moult cycle. Energy partitioning was compared among the different larval instars by calculating amounts of energy accumulation from AFDW and metabolic energy loss from respiration. Accordmg to these estimates, net growth efficiency (K2) decreases from the first to the last larval instar (57, 36, and 7 %, respectively), whereas respiratory losses increase in the same order. L. ferreirae has been reported being associated with scyphozoans, and it is speculated that highly increasing mortality as observed during and after metamorphosis might be caused by lack of this specific substrate.

Growth and physiology of Carcinus maenas (Decapoda, Portunidae) larvae in the field and in laboratory experiments

“…Biomass accumulation and energy uptake during the larval development of decapod crustaceans have been measured in a wide variety of species reared in the laboratory under optimal feeding conditions (Anger et al 1989, Harms 1990. Only a few attempts have been made to use laboratory data to predict production (Lindley 1988) or development rates (Anger 1983, Dawirs 1985 in the field.…”

Development of respiratory function in the American locustSchistocerca americana

“…animal's developmental stage (Clarke, 1957b;Jacobi and Anger, 1985;Anger et al, 1989;Carvalho and Phan, 1998). Insects with air sacs may be particularly susceptible to developing a deficit in respiratory capacity relative to tissue oxygen needs because, as they grow and increase in mass within an intermolt period, the chitinous integument may constrain increases in animal volume, leading to compression of the larger, air-filled tracheae and unsclerotized air sacs.…”

Determining the mass, volume, density, and weight in water of small zooplankters

“…Fish mass would be a more desirable reference, since fish of the same length might differ in mass and physiological health. Similar considerations also apply to studies of metabolic rates and their scaling in small plankters (Hinterleitner et al 1987, Giguere et al 1988, Anger et al 1989.…”