Effects of Diflubenzeron on the Ontogeny of Phototaxis by Palaemonetes pugio

The phototaxis by larvae of the grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio that hatched from embryos which were exposed to a single pulse concentration of diflubenzuron (DFB; Dimilin®) was quantified. Stage IV embryos (6-day-old) were exposed to 0.5 µg/L of DFB for 4 days followed by transfer into clean seawater for the rest of the incubation period. The photoresponses of light-adapted larvae from untreated embryos and embryos treated with 0.5 µg/L DFB were monitored from 1 day through 8 day post hatch for phototactic responses to 500 nm light. Larvae from untreated embryos exhibited strong positive phototaxis at high light intensities (3 x 10-2 and 3 x 10-1 Wm-2) but became negatively phototactic at lower light intensities (3 x 10-5 to 3 x 10-3 Wm-2). This phototactic pattern continued during the monitoring period. On the other hand, larvae from DFB-treated embryos exhibited altered phototaxis for the first 3 days. Alterations were especially evident on Day 1, as larvae were only negatively phototactic. By Day 4, these larvae reverted to the normal pattern of photoresponses shown by untreated larvae. These results indicated that the alterations in photoresponses of larvae caused by embryonic exposure to DFB are only transitory and can be corrected within 4 days of hatching if the larvae are exposed to water lacking DFB

Effects of Diflubenzeron on the Ontogeny of Phototaxis by Palaemonetes pugio

The phototaxis by larvae of the grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio that hatched from embryos which were exposed to a single pulse concentration of diflubenzuron (DFB; Dimilin®) was quantified. Stage IV embryos (6-day-old) were exposed to 0.5 µg/L of DFB for 4 days followed by transfer into clean seawater for the rest of the incubation period. The photoresponses of light-adapted larvae from untreated embryos and embryos treated with 0.5 µg/L DFB were monitored from 1 day through 8 day post hatch for phototactic responses to 500 nm light. Larvae from untreated embryos exhibited strong positive phototaxis at high light intensities (3 x 10-2 and 3 x 10-1 Wm-2) but became negatively phototactic at lower light intensities (3 x 10-5 to 3 x 10-3 Wm-2). This phototactic pattern continued during the monitoring period. On the other hand, larvae from DFB-treated embryos exhibited altered phototaxis for the first 3 days. Alterations were especially evident on Day 1, as larvae were only negatively phototactic. By Day 4, these larvae reverted to the normal pattern of photoresponses shown by untreated larvae. These results indicated that the alterations in photoresponses of larvae caused by embryonic exposure to DFB are only transitory and can be corrected within 4 days of hatching if the larvae are exposed to water lacking DFB

Effects of pesticides on crab cheliped regeneration

The mud crab cheliped regeneration bioassay has proven to be a sensitive and reliable bioassay in studies of the potential sublethal effects of pesticides, including teratogenesis, spontaneous autotomy, and duration of the various stages of development. The assay has also been demonstated to be a useful indication of mortality associated with the impact of these chemicals of anthropogenic origin during the megalopal and early postlarval stages of development. Four pesticides were tested here using the cheliped regeneration bioassay technique. Although carbofuran is approximately 5--6 times more toxic than methomyl, both compounds yield very similar results in terms of sublethal effects

Effects of temperature and salinity on the survival and development of mud crab, Scylla serrata (Forsskål), larvae

The combined effects of temperature and salinity on larval survival and development of the mud crab, Scylla serrata, were investigated in the laboratory. Newly hatched larvae were reared under 20 °C temperature and salinity combinations (i.e. combinations of four temperatures 25, 28, 31, 34 °C with five salinities 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 g L−1). The results showed that temperature and salinity as well as the interaction of the two parameters significantly affected the survival of zoeal larvae. Salinity at 15 g L−1 resulted in no larval survival to the first crab stage, suggesting that the lower salinity tolerance limit for mud crab larvae lies somewhere between salinity 15 and 20 g L−1. However, within the salinity range of 20–35 g L−1, no significant effects on survival of zoeal larvae were detected (P>0.05). The combined effects of temperature and salinity on larval survival were also evident as at low salinities, both high and low temperature led to mass mortality of newly hatched larvae (e.g. 34 °C/15 g L−1, 34 °C/20 g L−1 and 25 °C/15 g L−1 combinations). In contrast, the low temperature and high salinity combination of 25 °C/35 g L−1 resulted in one of the highest survival to the megalopal stage. It was also shown that at optimal 28 °C, larvae could withstand broader salinity conditions. Temperature, salinity and their interaction also significantly affected larval development. At 34 °C, the mean larval development time to megalopa under different salinity conditions ranged from 13.5 to 18.5 days. It increased to between 20.6 and 22.6 days at 25 °C. The effects of salinity on larval development were demonstrated by the fact that for all the temperatures tested, the fastest mean development to megalopa was always recorded at the salinity of 25 g L−1. However, a different trend of salinity effects was shown for megalopae as their duration consistently increased with an increase in salinity from 20 to 35 g L−1. In summary, S. serrata larvae tolerate a broad range of salinity and temperature conditions. Rearing temperature 25–30 °C and salinity 20–35 g L−1 generally result in reasonable survival. However, from an aquaculture point of view, a higher temperature range of 28–30 °C and a salinity range of 20–30 g L−1 are recommended as it shortens the culture cycle