In this study we sequenced the genomes of three economically important swimming crabs Portunus trituberculatus, Charybdis japonica , and Callinectes sapidus using next-generation sequencing approach made a basic assembly. The species are characterized with high heterozygosity (>1.2%) repeat content (>50%). Genome comparative analysis revealed 40 long conserved fragments (>5...

As part of an environmental health study of northwest Florida, we conducted an initial screening level assessment of contaminants in blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) and oysters (Crassostrea virginica) collected in bays and bayous in the Pensacola, FL area. Tissue samples were analyzed for mercury, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, selenium, tin, zinc, 17 dioxin/furan compounds,...

The blue crab Callinectes sapidus has seen a general decline in population levels. One factor influencing mortality is infections by Hematodinium perezi, a dinoflagellate parasite. A 2 yr study was conducted in 2014 and 2015 to monitor H. perezi DNA within the Maryland (USA) coastal bays, comparing seasonal cycles in the abundance of parasite DNA in environmental samples to parasite presence in...

Organisms can regulate mitochondrial metabolic adaptation, further ameliorate the energy homeostasis to control ATP production for expenditure during growth process under different physiological and nutritional conditions. Based on this understanding, objective of present study was investigate how dietary n-3 PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acid) lipid sources modify affect swimming crab ( Portunus...

During spawning events, horseshoe crab eggs are released from the female’s oviducts, and fertilized by one or more males. Eggs are shaped by the female into discrete clutches deposited in nests at depths of 10−20 cm on intertidal estuarine beaches. Distinguishing between fresh eggs and the early developmental stages is obfuscated by the large amount of dense, opaque yolk. The first unambiguous ...

Extraction of two visual pigments from crayfish eyes prompted an electrophysiological examination of the role of visual pigments in the compound eyes of six arthropods. The intact animals were used; in crayfishes isolated eyestalks also. Thresholds were measured in terms of the absolute or relative numbers of photons per flash at various wavelengths needed to evoke a constant amplitude of elect...