A total of 85 species of shrimps, belonging to eight separate families of decapod crustaceans, live in salt water off the Pacific coast of Canada. Six species support minor regional fisheries within Canada's extended fisheries jurisdiction. This publication is a comprehensive work on shrimps in the waters off British Columbia, containing a set of color plates, a description of a new shrimp species, new taxonomic data, a section on shrimp parasites, a gazeteer and a partial synonymy for all local species.
This reference work is designed to provide background information on an array of northeastern Pacific marine invertebrate species so that they can be more easily included in comparative studies of morphology, cell biology, reproduction, embryology, larval biology, and ecology. It is meant to serve biologists who are new to the field as well as experienced investigators who may not be familiar with the invertebrate fauna of the northern Pacific Coast. The species discussed in this volume are mostly from the cold temperate waters of the San Juan Archipelago, near Puget SOund and the Strait of Georgia, but the information and methods given will be useful in laboratories from Alaska to central California and applicable to some extend in other coastal or inland facilities. An introductory chapter discusses basic prodcedures for collecting and maintaining mature specimens, for initiating spawning, and for culturing embryos and larvae in the laboratory. Subsequent chapters summarize reproduction and development in thirty different invertebrate groups and provided ercent references through which additional information can be traced, cite monographs or keys needed to identify species, and give methods useful for studying an array of selected species. Available information on habitat, diet, reproductive mode, egg size, developmental pattern, developmental times, larval type, and conditions for settlement and metamorphosis is reported for over 450 species.
This book explores the biology of decapod shrimps, a group of animals known to most people as a nutritious and tasty food item. Shrimps are amazingly diverse in size, shape, coloration, behavior and natural history. Shrimp fisheries and aquaculture are a vital part of the USA and world economies. These crustaceans are key ecological and food-web components of marine and freshwater habitats. The book synthesizes information on the taxonomic and ecological diversity of shrimps, the structure and function of shrimp anatomy, antifouling adaptations, coloration and camouflage, reproductive biology, sexual systems, mating systems and behavior, life history strategies, symbioses between shrimps and other organisms, shrimp fisheries and aquaculture, as well as the evolution and phylogeny of shrimps. All chapters are written within an adaptational and evolutionary perspective. Important questions about shrimp biology are asked, and hypotheses for testing in future research are proposed. The book is spiced up with personal anecdotes and observations from the author’s research experiences. This book is intended as a comprehensive reference, a “go to” book about the biology of shrimps. The text is scientifically rigorous but written in a style intended for a varied readership. Thus, the book is a valuable resource for budding or working research scientists such as zoologists, aquatic biologists, fisheries and aquaculture professionals, as well as amateur naturalists, aquarium hobbyists and interested laypersons. As the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” so that the book is amply illustrated with figures and diagrams.The numerous color plates, composed of photos contributed by expert colleagues, make the world of shrimps come alive.
This is the first Pacific Coast full-color field guide for this important group of marine animals. It describes 163 species of crabs, shrimps and lobsters that occur in the nearshore waters from Alaska to Northern Baja California. The narrative for each species includes the identification, size, geographic range and habitat, as well as natural history notes on molting, reproduction, larval development and ecology. Also included are pictorial keys, glossary, index and suggested references.
