Decapod crustaceans, shrimps, crabs, prawns and their allies are highly visible and important members of marine environments. They are among the most charismatic of marine animals, inhabiting beaches, rocky shores and the deep sea, hiding under stones, burrowing in the sediment and nestling in among algae and many other microhabitats. However, most are difficult to identify by the specialist and amateur naturalist alike. Marine Decapod Crustacea explains the anatomical features necessary for differentiating taxa and includes diagnoses and identification keys to all 189 families and 2121 genera of marine Decapoda. Many decapods have vivid colours, which are showcased in a selection of spectacular photographs of many representative species. This volume provides an entry to the literature for taxonomists, naturalists, consultants, ecologists, teachers and students wanting to identify local faunas and understand this diverse group
Decapods are a culmination of nearly 600 million years of Crustacean evolution, during which time they have radiated into a variety of superfamilies, families, genera and species which occupy a variety of niches from fresh mountain streams to the abysses of the oceans. This book will fill a gap in the current literature on southern African decapods. Since Barnard published his Descriptive Catalogue of South African Decapod Crustacea in 1950, there have been numerous additions and name changes. This publication updates the taxonomy, and includes ecological and fisheries information. In addition, Kensley’s (1981) distributional checklist for the region has been updated and includes large numbers of new species and records for the region, bringing the total number of decapod to over 1000 species. Although not exhaustive, 262 species are featured, some of which are beautiful, some have commercial or artisinal value, both for consumption and the aquarium, and some have important ecological functions, while others are rare or interesting. For each species there is a photograph, synonymies, common names, a description, ecological information and name derivation (etymology). All the decapod families found in South Africa are described, some new, along with chapters on decapod research history in southern Africa, commercial and artisinal food value of decapods, biodiversity and future research direction. The book is arranged systematically, as taxonomy is based on phylogeny, starting with the earliest forms and progressing to the most derived and advanced forms, and will serve to stimulate interest and future research into southern Africa’s rich decapod biodiversity, especially at a time when biodiversity itself is threatened by global warming, coral bleaching and habitat loss. It will appeal to people interested in Decapoda, including academics, scholars, students, fishermen, aquarists, aquaculturists, recreational snorkel and SCUBA divers, as well as those interested in conservation, biodiversity, management and governance.
During the last decades, aquatic resources have been severely depleted due to human-induced factors such as overexploitation and pollution and more recently due to deviations in the physicochemical parameters of oceans, dramatic changes in weather patterns and melting of glaciers. The effects of these man-made factors are occurring in a relatively shorter time scale and, in many cases, are beyond the capacity of organisms to adapt to these deviations. The majority of natural aquatic resources, which are one of the most important food sources on the planet, are being used to the extent that limits their capacity for regeneration. Despite ongoing attempts towards developing strategies for long-term management of aquatic resources all over the world, efforts have met with limited success. Thus, the sustainable use of aquatic resources has become a very important reality considering a projected human population of 11 billion by the year 2100. With this reality in mind, the purpose of this book is to shed more light on the field of marine ecology by emphasizing the diversity of aquatic life on earth and its importance both as part of a balanced ecosystem and as part of critical source of food on earth. The book covers important findings, discussions and reviews on a variety of subjects on environmental and competitive interactions of marine organisms at different trophic levels and their effects on the productivity, dynamics and structure of marine ecosystems around the world. Each chapter focuses on a specific case in the field of marine ecology and was written by researchers with years of experience in their respective fields. We hope that academicians, researchers and students as well as experts and professionals working in the field of marine ecology will benefit from these contributions. We also hope that this book will inspire more studies to help better understand the marine environment and develop strategies to better protect this crucial element of life on earth.
This volume, 9C, in two parts, covers the Brachyura. With the publication of the ninth volume in the Treatise on Zoology: The Crustacea, we departed from the sequence one would normally expect. Some crustacean groups, mainly comprising the Decapoda, never had a French version produced, and the organization and production of these “new” chapters began independently from the preparation of the other chapters and volumes. Originally envisioned to encompass volume 9 of the series, it quickly became evident that the depth of material for such a volume must involve the printing of separate fascicles. The new chapters have now been completed, and the production of volume 9 was started while volumes 3 through 8 were (and in part still are) in preparation; with this vol. 9C-I & II this volume 9 is now concluded; vols. 1-5 have also been published and vols. 6-8 are being prepared.
The scientific understanding of arthropod phylogeny and evolution has changed significantly in recent decades. One of the most momentous alterations involved crustaceans, which are not a monophyletc group, but are part of a larger group along with insects: Pancrustacea. The old ideas surrounding crustacean evolution have served scientists well for many years; it is now time to turn toward new research by embracing the results derived from investigations conducted largely within this century. For example, new definitions have arisen from sources across several fields of study, and Frederick R. Schram and Stefan Koenemann have created a book that explores paleobiodiversity and the diversity of modern body plans. Developments within ontogenetic studies continue to generate remarkable insights into crustaceomorph evolution in regard to patterns of embryology and a revolution in the application of development genetics. Phylogeny techniques of analysis and new sources of data derived from molecular sequencing and genetic studies have forced scientists to consider new hypotheses concerning the interrelationships of all the pancrustaceans, both the crustaceomorphs and Hexapoda. Yet, some fossil groups still remain enigmatic (Thylacocephala). Despite this, research into fossils (even if incompletely understood) fills in gaps of our knowledge of paleobiodiversity, and it's useful for many things, including analyzing the origin and early evolution of Hexapoda. Evolution and Phylogeny of Pancrustacea demonstrates the use of multiple alternative hypotheses and other techniques through the well-executed presentation of diverse data sources involving Pancrustacea. Readers are left with clues to great mysteries, including the possible pathways of evolution within marine arthropods.
Decapod crustaceans are of tremendous interest and importance evolutionarily, ecologically, and economically. There is no shortage of publications reflecting the wide variety of ideas and hypotheses concerning decapod phylogeny, but until recently, the world's leading decapodologists had never assembled to elucidate and discuss relationships among
Urumaco and Venezuelan Paleontology offers a synthesis of the paleontological record of Venezuela, including new discoveries on stratigraphy, paleobotany, fossil invertebrates, and vertebrates. Besides providing a critical summary of the record of decapods, fishes, crocodiles, turtles, rodents, armadillos, and ungulates, several chapters introduce new information on the distribution and paleobiology of groups not previously studied in this part of the world. Given its position in the northern neotropics, close to the Panamanian land bridge, Venezuela is a key location for understanding faunal exchanges between the Americas in the recent geological past. The book reviews the recent paleobotanical and vertebrate fossil record of the region, provides an understanding of Pleistocene climatic change and biogeography for the last few thousand years, and integrates new information with summaries of Spanish language works on Venezuelan geology and paleontology.
This volume is devoted to the memory of Lipke Bijdeley Holthuis who dedicated his life to the study of Crustacea. Included are over 50 papers written by his friends and colleagues mainly dealing with crustacean taxonomy and systematics.