Paul A. Haefner

INTERACTIONS OF OVARY AND HEPATOPANCREAS DURING THE REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE OF CRANGON CRANGON (L.).

ABSTRACT Changes in weight and water content of the hepatopancreas and ovary of Crangon crangon are described in relation to body weight and ovarian development. Percentage of water content of the organs in relation to ovarian stage was determined for 43 females; organ wet weight data were obtained from another 137 animals. All stages of gonadal development (oogenesis, previtellogenesis, vitellogenesis, and depleted) were represented in the sample population of ovigerous, nonovigerous, and postovigerous females. The ovary and hepatopancreas progress through cycles of progressive and retrogressive changes in weight and volume which are characterized by a phase shift between the two organs. This resembles a Volterra-Lotka system, for which equations were derived. Wet weight of the ovary increases by 69% through previtellogenesis, and by 282% from pre- to secondary vitellogenesis. This represents an increase of 5.5% of body weight occupied by the ovary during development. The hepatopancreas nearly doubles in size from early oogonial development through previtellogenesis, but decreases markedly during vitellogenesis. The net result is an increase from a minimum value of 4% to a combined organ volume occupying 9.5% of total body weight when the ovary is fully vitellogenic. Increase in ovarian mass during development is not due to water increase. Water content decreases from > 70% in immature ovaries to 46% in vitellogenic organs. The hepatopancreas also loses water, but to a lesser extent: from 73% in oogenic individuals to 67% in vitellogenic animals.

Interactions of Ovary and Hepatopancreas during the Reproductive Cycle of Crangon crangon (L.). II. Biochemical Relationships

ABSTRACT Protein, lipid, and carbohydrate content were determined for hemolymph, ovary, and hepatopancreas of the brown shrimp Crangon crangon (Linnaeus) relative to ovarian development. Total organic content (pooled proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates in all three tissues) increases from oogenesis through vitellogenesis. The protein component accounts for the greatest increase, followed by lipid and carbohydrate. All measured chemical species in the depleted ovary (following oviposition) decrease to the values observed in oogenic ovaries. Increase in total protein content is associated with the increase in ovarian protein content; hemolymph and hepatopancreatic protein increase only slightly prior to previtellogenesis, and decrease during vitellogenesis. Total lipid increase is traceable to hepatopancreatic accumulation prior to vitellogenesis; subsequent decrease during vitellogenesis is associated with increases in hemolymph and ovarian lipid contents. Changes in total carbohydrate content are also due to hepatopancreatic accumulation during previtellogenesis, and subsequent decrease during vitellogenesis. Hemolymph carbohydrate content increases when hepatopancreatic content decreases. The ovary never accumulates large quantities of carbohydrates. Although the concentrations of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates vary considerably, certain patterns related to ovarian development and maturation are evident. These trends, and shifts in chemical content associated with changes in the size (volume) of the tissues and organs (hemolymph, ovary, hepatopancreas), are discussed in terms of biochemical conversion and transport of the compounds between organs during the reproductive cycle.

The effect of environmental osmotic conditions on blood and tissue glucose levels in the brown shrimp, Crangon crangon (L.)

Abstract 1. 1. Glucose concentrations of blood and whole animal homogenates of brown shrimp, Crangon crangon (L.) were determined after acclimation to six salinities between 5 and 37 ppt, and two temperatures (8, 19°C). 2. 2. Mean glucose concentrations tend to decrease with increasing sizes and are highest in males, lowest in non-ovigerous females, and intermediate in ovigerous females. 3. 3. Blood glucose concentrations are lowest at extreme salinities; maximum values occur around 12ppt. 4. 4. Whole animal and cellular glucose tend to increase with salinity, but are stabilized between 10 and 30 ppt. Concurrent with reduced metabolic activity the concentrations are reduced at the lower temperature. 5. 5. The role of glucose in osmoregulation, and its variability due to sex, weight and temperature are discussed.

QUANTITATIVE CHANGES DURING OVARIAN DEVELOPMENT IN THE BROWN SHRIMP CRANGON CRANGON (L., 1758) (DECAPODA, NATANTIA)

Changes in ovarian weight and volume of Crangon crangon during ovarian development are subjected to mathematical treatment. The relationship between ovarian wet weight and ovarian stage is exponential, and indicates that the developmental stages (oogenesis, previtellogenesis, vitellogenesis) are approximately equal in duration. The exponential relation allows, although to a limited extent, the prediction of ovarian stage from values of percentage of body weight occupied by the ovary. Derived increase in ovary wet weight is related more to increase in ova volume than to increase in the number of ova, particularly during later stages of development. At stage 6 virtually all the supporting tissue has disappeared, while the weight of the ovary is still about half its maximal weight as attained at stage 7.

GILL MERISTICS AND BRANCHIAL INFESTATION OF OVALIPES STEPHENSONI (CRUSTACEA, BRACHYURA) BY SYNOPHRYA HYPERTROPHICA (CILIATA, APOSTOMIDA)

ABSTRACT A preliminary survey of 253 Ovalipes stephensoni collected off the southeast coast of the United States revealed a 94.5% incidence of infestation by the parasitic ciliate Synophrya hypertrophica. Analysis of 67 crabs indicated an infestation density ranging from 1 to 270 lesions per branchial chamber. An in depth study of 38 crabs (19 male, 19 female), ranging from 18 mm to 80 mm in carapace width (CW), provided details on the number of gill lamellae with and without parasitic lesions relative to size, sex, and branchial chamber of the crab. The mean lamellar counts of both chambers are not statistically different (P > 0.05), nor is there a significant difference in the mean count between males and females (P > 0.05). Significant differences in mean lamellar counts exist among the individual gills (ANOVA, P 0.05). The lesions are distributed evenly among the gills (ANOVA, P > 0.05). The extent of the loss of respiratory surface area due to the presence of parasitic lesions was quantified by measuring the area of lesion and total lamellar surface of 45 parasite-laden lamellae of a 55.3 mm CW crab. Distal lamellae are subject to a significantly greater loss of lamellar tissue due to infestation (ANOVA, P < 0.01). The loss of respiratory surface resulting from three levels of infestation (light, medium, heavy) was extrapolated. The resultant percentage losses (0.05, 0.85, 1.39) are low and of questionable importance in the overall natural mortality of the host species.

MORPHOMETRY, REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY, AND DIET OF ACANTHOCARPUS ALEXANDRI STIMPSON, 1871 (DECAPODA, BRACHYURA) IN THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC BIGHT

ABSTRACT Morphometry, reproductive biology, and diet of Acanthocarpus alexandri (Brachyura, Calappidae), captured on the eastern continental shelf of North America, are described. Carapace width was significantly longer than carapace length for the size range (CW: 6–44 mm) examined. Of the nine morphometric relationships observed, five dimensions exhibited allometric growth: width of propodus for male chelipeds, length of ischio-merus for female chelipeds, length of inferior meral spine for chelipeds of both sexes, width of the abdomen, and length of vulvae for females. Sexual dimorphism was demonstrated for body depth, abdominal width, and length of inferior spine of the chelipeds. Pubertal molts for females in the 18-24 mm range of carapace width were inferred from changes in allometry of vulval length and abdominal width. These alterations were correlated with gonad development and pleopod setation. Examination of testes and vasa deferentia indicated that males mature within a comparable size range. Acanthocarpus alexandri is an opportunistic carnivore and scavenger, feeding on a variety of benthic infauna.