Some problems of crustacean taxonomy related to the phenomenon of Horohalinicum

If gene regulatory processes form the basis of phenotypic plasticity that evidences itself as discrete adaptive norms (sensu developmental conversion), it seems evident that the forms capable of such adaptations would possess a correspondingly richer genome than those lacking such adaptations. We examine evidence for the existence of genetic triads which are comprised of one form with wide niches due to phenotypic plasticity and two forms, each which is genetically fixed and exhibits a phenotype at one of the extremes of the plastic form. The invasion of organisms into new environments may occur by acquisition of discrete adaptive norms (DAN), which enable a transition between the old and new environments. The horohalinicum (=critical salinity) is defined as a salinity zone which always corresponds to 5–8 ppm and divides freshwater and marine faunas and floras, as well as many other physico-chemical characteristics. The current paper explores the existence of discrete adaptive norms and genetic triads with respect to salinity in some euryhaline crustaceans, particularly the arctic copepods, and discusses how such adaptations might inform us about species boundaries that affect the taxonomic status of these forms.     

Spatial organization and isotubulin composition of microtubules in epidermal tendon cells of Artemia franciscana

Epidermally derived tendon cells attach the exoskeleton (cuticle) of the Branchiopod crustacean, Artemia franciscana, to underlying muscle in the hindgut, while the structurally similar transalar tendon (epithelial) cells, which also arise from the epidermis and are polarized, connect dorsal and ventral exopodite surfaces. To establish these latter attachments the transalar tendon cells interact with cuticles on opposite sides of the exopodite by way of their apical surfaces and with one another via basal regions, or the cuticle attachments may be mediated through linkages with phagocytic storage cells found in the hemolymph. In some cases, phyllopod tendon cells attach directly to muscle cells. Tendon cells in the hindgut of Artemia possess microtubule bundles, as do the transalar cells, and they extend from the basal myotendinal junction to the apical domain located near the cuticle. The bundled microtubules intermingle with thin filaments reminiscent of microfilaments, but intermediate filament-like structures are absent. Microtubule bundles converging at apical cell surfaces contact structures termed apical invaginations, composed of cytoplasmic membrane infoldings associated with electron-dense material. Intracuticular rods protrude from apical invaginations, either into the cuticle during intermolt or the molting fluid in premolt. Confocal microscopy of immunofluorescently stained samples revealed tyrosinated, detyrosinated, and acetylated tubulins, the first time posttranslationally modified isoforms of this protein have been demonstrated in crustacean tendon cells. Microfilaments, as shown by staining with phalloidin, coincided spatially with microtubule bundles. Artemia tendon cells clearly represent an interesting system for study of cytoskeleton organization within the context of cytoplasmic polarity and the results in this article indicate functional cooperation of microtubules and microfilaments. These cytoskeletal elements, either acting independently or in concert, may transmit tension from muscle to cuticle in the hindgut and resist compression when connecting exopodite cuticular surfaces.     

Survival of Deep-Sea Shrimp (Alvinocaris sp.) During Decompression and Larval Hatching at Atmospheric Pressure

We report successful larval hatching of deep-sea shrimp after decompression to atmospheric pressure. Three specimens of deep-sea shrimp were collected from an ocean depth of 1157 m at cold-seep sites off Hatsushima Island in Sagami Bay, Japan, using a pressure-stat aquarium system. Phylogenetic analysis of Alvinocaris sp. based on cytochrome c oxidase subunit gene sequences confirmed that these species were a member of the genus Alvinocaris. All 3 specimens survived to reach atmospheric pressure conditions after stepwise 63-day decompression. Two of the specimens contained eggs, which hatched after 10 and 16 days, respectively, of full decompression. Although no molting of the shrimp larvae was observed during 74 days of rearing under atmospheric pressure, the larvae developed conventional dark-adapted eyes after 15 days.     

中国洞穴甲壳动物多样性及其对洞穴环境的适应性

简要阐述了洞穴环境的研究现状以及洞穴动物的生态特征,初步探讨了中国洞穴甲壳动物的形成过程、多样性、地理分布以及对洞穴环境的适应性。截止到2008年10月,我国已记录的洞穴甲壳动物(主要指十足目虾类和端足目钩虾类)共有33种,分别隶属6科10属,主要分布在贵州省、广西省等喀斯特洞穴密集地区。洞穴甲壳动物由于长期生活在洞穴的黑暗带,食物匮乏,水温恒定,CO2浓度过高,且O2浓度相对较少的环境中,其在形态结构、消化系统、生理及行为等方面逐渐表现出与地表甲壳动物不同的适应性特征。如:眼缺失、体无色、触角和附肢显著增长、新陈代谢减慢、代谢率小,昼夜节律降低,不能调节体温,生活步调放慢,寿命长,发育周期长等。     

Ingestion of Large Centric Diatoms, Mangrove Detritus, and Zooplankton by Zoeae of Aratus pisonii (Crustacea: Brachyura: Grapsidae)

Ingestion rates of zoeae of Aratus pisonii Milne Edwards (Brachyura: Grapsidae) were determined offering natural plankton-detritus mixtures in laboratory food selection experiments. The food mixtures were sampled in the Itamaracá estuary, north-eastern Brazil, and standardised to a size range of 50–200 μm. Zoeae ingested significant amounts of large centric diatoms (Coscinodiscus spp.), mangrove detritus, tintinnids (Favella ehrenbergi) and adult copepods during feeding experiments. Diatoms were positively selected by A. pisonii zoeae in all three experiments, with ingestion rates of 3.3–21.3 cells zoea⁻¹ day⁻¹. Detritus particles were always more abundant than phytoplankton and zooplankton in the particle size spectrum offered. Detritus was ingested in two of three experiments, with ingestion rates of up to 34.1 particles zoea⁻¹ day⁻¹, being the most important food item during one experiment. Adult copepods (up to 1.8 ind. zoea⁻¹ day⁻¹) and tintinnids (up to 0.4 ind. zoea⁻¹ day⁻¹) were ingested by A. pisonii zoeae during one experiment each. In spite of a wide range of zoeal density, food particle composition, and density, zoeae of A. pisonii displayed a consistent pattern of food selectivity. This hints at a consistent sensory and behavioural mechanism related to capture and handling of food particles, that most likely also affects larval feeding under natural conditions. Although detritus showed to be quantitatively ingested under estuarine conditions, zoeae of A. pisonii preferred large diatoms and ingested zooplankton only occasionally.     

Ghrelin signaling in heart remodeling of adult obese mice

In the crayfish Astacus leptodactylus, as in several crustacean species, the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone is present as two isoforms differing by the chirality of the third residue, a phenylalanine. In the present work, isoforms synthesized full length by solid-phase peptide synthesis have been purified, refolded, the location of the disulfide bridges has been checked, their immunoreactivity against different antibodies have been analyzed and their hyperglycemic activity tested, to ensure the identity of the synthetic peptides with their natural homologs. Different parameters of the hyperglycemic activity of both isoforms were studied. In addition to a difference in the kinetics of hyperglycemia, already known from other studies, it was observed that the dose-response was different depending on the season where experiments were performed, the response being stronger in spring than in autumn, especially for the d-Phe containing isoform. A dosage method based on sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed to measure hemolymphatic levels of the isoforms after spiking of the animals with one isoform or the other. It was found that hemolymphatic clearance was identical for both isoforms, indicating that their differential effect is not linked to their different lifetime in the hemolymph but may rather rely on other mechanisms such as their binding to different target tissues.     

The role of moulting in parasite defence

Parasitic infections consist of a succession of steps during which hosts and parasites interact in specific manners. At each step, hosts can use diverse defence mechanisms to counteract the parasite's attempts to invade and exploit them. Of these steps, the penetration of parasites into the host is a key step for a successful infection and the epithelium is the first line of host defence. The shedding of this protective layer (moulting) is a crucial feature in the life cycle of several invertebrate and vertebrate taxa, and is generally considered to make hosts vulnerable to parasites and predators. Here, we used the crustacean Daphnia magna to test whether moulting influences the likelihood of infection by the castrating bacterium Pasteuria ramosa. This parasite is known to attach to the host cuticula before penetrating into its body. We found that the likelihood of successful parasite infection is greatly reduced if the host moults within 12 h after parasite exposure. Thus, moulting is beneficial for the host being exposed to this parasite. We further show that exposure to the parasite does not induce hosts to moult earlier. We discuss the implications of our findings for host and parasite evolution and epidemiology.     

Functional anatomy of the female reproductive systems of two spider crabs (Decapoda,Majoidea)

To better understand the mating systems of majoid crabs, we studied the functional anatomy of the female reproductive systems of the spider crabs Leurocyclus tuberculosus and Libinia spinosa, comparing them with those of other Majoidea. Adult females were measured and dissected, and their reproductive systems described macroscopically and histologically. In females of both species, the seminal receptacles are paired globular structures of ecto‐mesodermal origin. The mesoderm‐derived region is lined by a stratified epithelium. The anchoring, proliferative, and secretory strata are clearly recognizable . The ectoderm‐derived region is lined by a simple cylindrical epithelium underlying a cuticle that increases in thickness toward the vagina. The transition between the ectoderm and mesoderm‐derived regions is abrupt, with differences between the studied species: Li. spinosa has a “velum,” whereas Le. tuberculosus presents prominent “folds.” In both species, the position in which the oviduct is connected to the seminal receptacles is intermediate between the dorsal and ventral types previously described in other eubrachyurans. The seminal receptacles of the studied species show four different conditions, which can be distinguished macroscopically based on their shape and amount of sperm stored. We compare our data with those from other Majoidea in an attempt to determine whether the morphology of the seminal receptacles is related to different mating strategies or behaviors.