The use of physicochemical properties to assess changes in the cuticle structure of crustaceans: Case of the prawn Palaemon serratus and its moult cycle.

The crustacean cuticle is a composite material acting as a shell, but also linked with other physiological functions as respiration, locomotion or reproduction. The present study aimed to characterize for the first time the cuticle properties of the marine prawn Palaemon serratus using thermal (TGA) and chemical (FTIR, ICP-AES) techniques. The use of native lyophilized cutiles also enabled to estimate the complexity of the cuticle structure of P.

Combined effects of temperature and diet on the performance of larvae produced by young and old Palaemon serratus females.

Seasonal variations in environmental conditions determine the success of decapod larval development, and females transmit more energy in sub-optimal conditions to maximise the fitness of their offspring. The objective of this study was to focus on the combined effects of temperature (14, 18 and 22 °C) and food quality on the performance of larvae produced by 5 young (0+) and 5 old (I+) Palaemon serratus females. We prepared 3 diets based on Artemia, in decreasing order of total fatty acid content: freshly hatched nauplii (N), unenriched metanauplii (M) and metanauplii enriched with a mixture of microalgae (ME).

Temperature-mediated developmental plasticity in winter and summer larvae of Palaemon serratus.

In a seasonal environment, variation in larval phenotype and developmental plasticity allow crustacean larvae to maximise survival by lengthening or shortening their development. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of temperature, laying season and their interaction on larval developmental pathways (larval instars and larval stages). We monitored the different larval stages and calculated the number of larval instars reached during the development of winter and summer larvae of Palaemon serratus incubated at 12, 16 or 20 °C.

N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase activity in Palaemon serratus - Methodological optimisation and intrinsic variability.

Chitinolytic enzymes fulfil a key role in the moulting process of crustaceans, in degrading the endocuticle during apolysis. Measuring the enzyme activity is an interesting manner to monitor the moult process at sub-individual level, complementary to the classical observation of the integument morphogenesis, ecdysis success, or moult cycle duration. The present study aimed to optimise the methodology of using N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) activity to monitor moulting in the marine prawn Palaemon serratus, and to compare NAGase activity levels along the moult cycle of both male and female specimens.