This study was carried out with the aim of examining the seasonal reproductive cycle of the female crayfish Astacus leptodactylus from Aras Dam Lake, Western-Azerbaijan, Iran. Gonadosomatic index (GSI), and oocyte size were measured in females sampled seasonally in June, August, November(2011), January(2012). Development of the oocytes was categorized according to the diameter and the presenc...

This study was carried out with the aim of examining the seasonal reproductive cycle of the female crayfish Astacus leptodactylus from Aras Dam Lake, Western-Azerbaijan, Iran. Gonadosomatic index (GSI), and oocyte size were measured in females sampled seasonally in June, August, November(2011), January(2012). Development of the oocytes was categorized according to the diameter and the presenc...

A new species of crayfish is described from the Cave Sotano de La Lucha, in border between Mexican states Chiapas and Oaxaca. The completely adapted to cave environment with reduced eyes lacking cornea visual pigments, an almost unpigmented body elongated appendages. We also report on crayfish populations “Lagunas Montebello” area, which fit well description Procambarus pilosimanus  (Ortmann, 1...

Although native to the southeastern United States, the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) has become established worldwide through accidental and intentional actions by humans. In the Santa Monica Mountains of southern California, the presence of the omnivorous crayfish is associated with the absence or reduced abundance of native amphibians. The original source of P. clarkii in southern ...

The concomitant effects of Pb and hypoxia on respiration and muscle energy status were examined in the freshwater crayfish Cherax destructor to determine if Pb intoxication exacerbated the effects of hypoxia. C. destructor, either intoxicated for 14 days with 0.5 mgL(-1)Pb, or from Pb-free control conditions, were subjected to progressive hypoxia at -2.7 kPah(-1) to a O2 partial pressure in the...

Climate change will require species to adapt to new conditions or follow preferred climates to higher latitudes or elevations, but many dispersal-limited freshwater species may be unable to move due to barriers imposed by watershed boundaries. In addition, invasive nonnative species may expand into new regions under future climate conditions and contribute to the decline of native species. We e...

The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii is a highly adaptable, tolerant, and fecund freshwater crayfish that inhabits a wide range of aquatic environments. It is an important crustacean model organism that is used in many research fields, including animal behavior, environmental stress and toxicity, and studies of viral infection. Despite its widespread use, knowledge of the crayfish genome ...

Biological invasions are a significant driver of human-induced global change and many ecosystems sustain sympatric invaders. Interactions occurring among these invaders have important implications for ecosystem structure and functioning, yet they are poorly understood. Here we apply newly developed metrics derived from stable isotope data to provide quantitative measures of trophic diversity wi...

Behaviors, such as those that establish dominant and subordinate social status, are thought to be driven by various neuromodulators and hormones. In crustaceans, the level of serotonin (5-HT) in the hemolymph is correlated with degree of aggressiveness. The crustacean heart is neurogenic and is modulated by neural secretion of 5-HT in the hemolymph, which bathes the cardiac tissue. We discuss a...