title: Development and functional morphology of the mouthparts and foregut in larvae and post-larvae of Macrobrachium jelskii (Decapoda: Palaemonidae).
abstract: The morphology of the mouthparts and foregut of the larvae and post-larvae of Macrobrachium jelskii was investigated to determine their functional roles in feeding, in order to understand the larval feeding behaviour and the changes that occur during its development. The mouthparts and foregut of the zoea I and II are morphologically similar, rudimentary and non-functional in feeding. Only in the final larval stage, zoea III, do the external mouthparts and foregut become structurally more complex and thus likely to play a potential role in feeding. Two behavioral trials (point of no return, point of reserve saturation) evaluated the resistance to starvation in zoea I, II, and III. The results indicate that they have sufficient nutritional reserves to permit them to complete metamorphosis without feeding. Overall, our results suggest that the zoea I and II of Macrobrachium jelskii engage in obligate lecithotrophy and zoea III in facultative lecithotrophy.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Envrionmental Biology, Universidade Federal do Para/IECOS, Campus de Bragança, Al. Leandro Ribeiro S/Nº, Aldeia, Bragança, PA 68600-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristina Pantoja
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Envrionmental Biology, Universidade Federal do Para/IECOS, Campus de Bragança, Al. Leandro Ribeiro S/Nº, Aldeia, Bragança, PA 68600-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adelson Silva de
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Aquaculture Laboratory, Universidade Federal do Para /IECOS, Campus de Bragança, Al. Leandro Ribeiro S/Nº, Aldeia, Bragança, PA 68600-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Murilo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maciel
authors.affiliation: Aquaculture Laboratory, Universidade Federal do Para /IECOS, Campus de Bragança, Al. Leandro Ribeiro S/Nº, Aldeia, Bragança, PA 68600-000, Brazil. Electronic address: macielufpa@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cristiana R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Maciel
authors.affiliation: Carcinology Laboratory, Universidade Federal do Para /IECOS, Campus de Bragança, Al. Leandro Ribeiro S/Nº, Aldeia, Bragança, PA 68600-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Araújo
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Abrunhosa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D033364:Decapoda / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007814:Larva / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological; D009055:Mouth / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000648:ultrastructure
keywords: Abbreviated development; Foregut; Freshwater prawn; PNR; PRS; Starvation