Microhabitat use by the white‐clawed crayfish in a Tuscan stream

Habitat modification, pollution, overfishing, poaching, competition from non‐indigenous species, and diseases have led to the extinction in Europe of many populations of indigenous crayfish. Under the rationale that any programme of reintroduction should be preceded by a thorough understanding of habitat requirements of the species of concern, we studied the microhabitat use of an Austropotamobius pallipes population in Tuscany, central Italy. Microhabitat use was assessed for water depth, current velocity, substrate, percentages of boulders, underwater tree roots, and in‐stream vegetation cover. Results show that A. pallipes' habitat use is size‐partitioned. Smaller individuals mostly occupy stream edges in shallow waters with submerged roots, whereas larger individuals use deeper waters, often associated with boulders. Crayfish spatial distribution is restricted mostly to the microhabitats characterised by extensive cover and slow current velocity. The study highlights the importance of habitat heterogeneity and cover elements for the protection of this indigenous species.     

Ranging behaviour of the invasive crayfish,Procambarus clarkii (Girard)

The spreading of the invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii throughout the world is attributed to human introductions; however, the rapid and widespread diffusion of the species following its establishment is the result of its dispersal capabilities. This study aimed to provide further information for the comprehension of the invasive potential of this crayfish by underlining some aspects of its behavioural flexibility. Radio-telemetry was used to analyse locomotion, home-range faithfulness and dispersal of the species in an Italian irrigation ditch system. Space was used differently by the two sexes, females being more nomadic in their ranging behaviour probably due to their reproductive phase. In addition, an inter-individual variability was found in both speed of locomotion and dispersal pattern. By applying a simulation model, it was shown that (1) both sexes disperse, and (2) ranging behaviour is not the result of a passive dispersion, but that the occupancy of burrows may affect the rate of dispersion. Finally, an intra-individual variability is related to the occurrence of two spatial strategies within the same population.     

[H~+]对从克氏螯虾(Cambarus clarki)第一触角内侧枝记录的动作电位放电的影响

应用电生理学方法,研究了[H~+]对从克氏螯虾离体第一触角内侧枝记录的触角神经动作电位的影响.结果表明,[H~+]对该神经动作电位的发放具有抑制作用.在一定范围内,H~+浓度越高,抑制作用越强;当pH值低于渔业水体最高允许酸度(pH 6.5)时,表示该电位的放电频率与作用时间(1～5×256×1000ms)关系的回归直线方程的b值等于或小于-0.083,而F_5/F_1比值等于或小于0.69,与pH7.0比较,差异显著(p<0.05,或p<0.01);当b≤-0.181或F_5/F_1≤0.25时,水体的酸度已达到强酸水平(pH2).这说明把pH6.5作为渔业水体的最高允许酸度是合适的.     

克氏原螯虾触角腺的组织学研究

本文利用石蜡切片技术对克氏原螯虾触角腺进行了组织学研究，结果表明，克氏原螯虾触角腺可分为端囊、迷路和肾管三部分，端囊部分的细胞呈柱状，细胞核位于基部；迷路部分细胞也呈柱状，其顶端具刷状缘，核位于细胞的基部或中部，迷路部分可分为二个亚区；肾管部分的细胞呈柱状或较为扁平，核位于细胞的中部或靠近细胞顶端，肾管部分可分为三个不同亚区。     

克氏原螯虾原肌球蛋白的纯化及过敏原性分析

以13份甲壳类动物过敏患者血清的Western—blotting分析,确定克氏原螯虾主要过敏原为36ku蛋白质．通过盐析、等电点沉淀及热处理等方法纯化该蛋白质,以兔抗拟穴青蟹原肌球蛋白（Tropo-myosin,TM）多克隆抗体的Western—blotting分析,确定该蛋白质为TM．同源性分析表明,克氏原螯虾TM与南美白对虾TM、拟穴青蟹的氨基酸序列相似性较高（〉90％）．酶切位点预测显示,它分别有49个胰蛋白酶和6个胰凝乳蛋白酶的酶切位点．模拟胃肠液消化实验结果显示,纯化TM不易被胃蛋白酶降解,易于被胰蛋白酶和胰凝乳蛋白酶降解,进一步的Western—blotting和抑制性ELISA分析结果显示,其消化产物仍具有一定的免疫活性．采用蒸煮处理可降低TM的消化稳定性及免疫活性,且蒸煮处理时间越长,效果越显著．说明。TM为克氏原螯虾主要过敏原．与其他甲壳娄动物TM的序列相似件较高．     

Control of sequences of movements in crayfish escape behavior

Summary Crayfish escape from predators by a series of rapid tailflips. The production of this seemingly simple behavior involves the interaction of multiple neural control mechanisms. The rapid flexion phase of the first tailflip is a fixed action pattern that is always organized by giant command neurons. Subsequent reextension is a chain reflex mediated by sensory feedback from the initial flexion. All following tailflips are produced by a non-gialnt system which is activated in parallel with the giant system by the escape-initiating stimulus. Proper integration of the giant system and the non-giant system is mediated by a reaction time mechanism.     

The biotransformation of tritiated 3-dehydroecdysone by crayfish,Procambarus clarkii

The injection of 3-dehydroecdysone (3dhE, 5 /g), the major ecdysteroid secreted by the Y-organ of crayfishProcambarus clarkii, resulted in apolysis within about 5 days. The hormonal response at the molecular level was investigated by injection of the radio-labeled compound; within 3 h of injection of [³H]3dhE, most radio-isotope was found in the extracted epidermal tissues and identified as ecdysone, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), and their 3-hydroxy epimers. The biotransformation was undoubtedly performed in the peripheral area of the Y-organ. Cleavage of the polar conjugates, using an enzyme fromHelix pomatia, gave all of the above ecdysteroids including 3dhE. It was also found that the biosynthetic site of 3dhE was different from that of ecdysone at the subcellular level of the Y-organ.     

澳大利亚麦龙虾触角腺组织学的初步研究

本文首次报道了以组织学手段对澳大利亚淡水螯虾-麦龙虾的触角腺进行研究的结果。根据组织学(?)征麦龙虾的触角腺可分为三个部分,它们依次为:端囊,迷路和肾管。端囊部分的细胞呈柱状,细胞核位于基部或中部。迷路部分的细胞呈短柱状,顶端有刷状缘,核位于基部或亚中部。肾管部分的细胞扁平,核很大偏向顶端,占据了细胞的大部分空间。在迷路和肾管部分没有明显的亚区的分别。     

[H~+]对从克氏螯虾(Cambarus clarki)第一触角内侧枝记录的动作电位放电的影响

应用电生理学方法,研究了[H~+]对从克氏螯虾离体第一触角内侧枝记录的触角神经动作电位的影响。结果表明,[H~+]对该神经动作电位的发放具有抑制作用。在一定范围内,H~+浓度越高,抑制作用越强;当pH值低于渔业水体最高允许酸度(pH6.5)时,表示该电位的放电频率与作用时间(1～5×256×1000ms)关系的回归直线方程的b值等于或小于-0.083,而(?)_5/(?)_1比值等于或小于0.69,与pH7.0比较,差异显著(p<0.05,或p<0.01);当b≤-0.181或(?)_5/(?)_1≤0.25时,水体的酸度已达到强酸水平(pH2)。这说明把pH6.5作为渔业水体的最高允许酸度是合适的。