Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Elemental composition (C,N,H) in larval and crab-1 stages of Pagurus bernhardus (Decapoda, Paguridae) and Carcinus maenas (Decapoda, Portunidae)

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Analyses of individual content of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and hydrogen (H) were carried out for all larval stages of Pagurus bernhardus and Carcinus maenas, and for newly metamorphosed crabs. Maximum range in total larval development is 12.8 to 165.8 μg C, 3.2 to 35.1 μg N, and 1.9 to 24.9 μg H in P. bernhardus and 3.1 to 43.2 μg C, 0.7 to 10.1 μg N, and 0.4 to 6.3 μg H in C. maenas. From these data energy equivalents were calculated. Maximum range in total larval life is 0.43 to 6.38 J ind. -1 in P. bernhardus and 0.1 to 1.49 J ind. -1 in C. maenas. There is a 32.4% mean loss of energy in P. bernhardus megalopa development; this seems to describe the normal developmental pattern in this stage. Biomass was determined as fresh and dry weight respectively. Individual dry weight is about 3.6 to 5.6 times higher in P. bernhardus (44 to 340 μg) than in C. maenas (12 to 93 μg) larvae.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Anger, K. and K. K. C. Nair: Laboratory experiments on the larval development of Hyas araneus (Decapoda, Majidae). Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 32, 36–54 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Biologische Anstalt Helgoland: Jahresbericht 1978, 61–76 (1979)

  • Beers, J. R.: Studies on the chemical composition of the major zooplankton groups in the Sargasso Sea off Bermuda. Limnol. Oceanogr. 11, 520–528 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Childress, J. J. and M. Nygard: Chemical composition and buoyancy of midwater crustaceans as function of depth and occurrence off southern California. Mar. Biol. 27, 225–238 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Christiansen, M. E.: Crustacea Decapoda Brachyura. Mar. Invert. Scandinavia 2, 1–143 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Couch, R. Q.: On the metamorphosis of the decapod crustaceans. 11th rep. R. Cornwell polytech. Soc., 28–43 (1843)

  • Curl, H., Jr.: Analysis of carbon in marine plankton organisms. J. mar. Res. 20, 181–188 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawirs, R. R.: Aufzuchtbedingungen ökosystemrelevanter Dekapoden der Nordsee (Pagurus bernhardus und Carcinus maenas). Dipl., Universität Kiel (1979a)

  • Dawirs, R. R.: Effects of temperature and salinity on larval development of Pagurus benhardus (Decapoda, Paguridae). Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser. I, 323–329 (1979b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mac Donald, J. D., R. B. Pike and D. I. Williamson: Larvae of the British species of Diogenes, Pagurus, Anapagurus and PitLithodes (Crustacea, Decapoda). Proc. Zool. Soc. London 128, 209–257 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  • Guillard, R. R. L. and J. H. Ryther: Studies of marine planktonic diatoms. I. Cyclotella nana Hastedt and Detonula confervacea (Cleve) Gran. Can. J. Microbiol. 8, 229–239 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ikeda, T.: Nutritional ecology of marine zooplankton. Mem. Fac. Fish. Hokkaido Univ. 22, 1–97 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinne, O.: International Helgoland Symposium “Ecosystem research”: Opening address. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 30, 1–7 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lebour, M. V.: Notes on the inshore plankton of Plymouth. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 26, 527–547 (1947)

    Google Scholar 

  • Logan, D. T. and C. E. Epifanio. A laboratory energy balance for the Larvae and juveniles of the American lobster Homarus americanus. Mar. Biol. 47, 381–389 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mootz, C. A. and C. E. Epifanio: An energy budget for Manippe mercenaria larvae fed Artemia nauplii. Biol. Bull. 146, 44–55 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Omori, M.: Weight and chemical composition of some important oceanic zooplankton in the North Pacific ocean. Mar. Biol. 3, 4–10 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pandian, T. J. and K. H. Schumann: Chemical composition and caloric content of egg and zoea of the hermit crab Eupagurus bernhardus. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 16 (3), 225–230 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice, A. L. and R. W. Ingle: The larval development of Carcinus maenas (L.) and Carcinus mediterraneus Czerniavsky (Crustacea, Brachyura, Portunidae) reared in the laboratory. Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist. (Zool.) 28, 103–119 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Salonen, K., J. Sarvala, I Hakala and M. L. Viljanen: The relation of energy and organic carbon in aquatic invertebrates. Limnol. Oceanogr. 21 (5), 724–730 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, B. G.: Laboratory rearing of the larval stages of Carcinus maenas (L.) (Crustacea, Decapoda). J. nat. Hist. 2, 121–126 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Williamson, H. C.: On the larval and early young stages and rate of growth of the shore crab (Carcinus maenas) Leach. Rep. Fish. Bd. of. Scotland. Sci. Invest. 21 (3), 136–179 (1902)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinogradov, A. P. (Ed.): The elementary chemical composition of marine organisms [transl. from Vinogradov's original Russian by J. Efron and J. K. Stewlo]. 647 pp. Copenhagen: Bianco Luno's Printing, New Haven 1953

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biologische Anstalt Helgoland (Meeresstation), D-2192, Helgoland, Federal Republic of Germany

    R. R. Dawirs

Authors
  1. R. R. Dawirs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by O. Kinne, Hamburg

Contribution to research project “Experimentelle marine Ökosystemanalyse” sponsored by Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie, Bonn (Grant No. MFU-0328/1)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dawirs, R.R. Elemental composition (C,N,H) in larval and crab-1 stages of Pagurus bernhardus (Decapoda, Paguridae) and Carcinus maenas (Decapoda, Portunidae). Mar. Biol. 57, 17–23 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00420963

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00420963

Keywords

Search

Navigation