Cancer pagurus (Linnaeus, 1758) physiological responses to simulated live transport: Influence of temperature, air exposure and AQUI-S (R)

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

barrento, s (Author) Other; marques, a (Author) Other; vaz-pires, p (Author) ICBAS; nunes, ml (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Thermal Biology

Vol. 36

Pages: 128-137

ISSN: 0306-4565

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 20 Citations

Scopus - 23 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-TMF

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2010.12.006

Abstract (EN): Cancer pagurus is a commercially important crab, mostly appreciated in Southern European countries, including Portugal, being usually live transported from UK and France. Once in Portugal, crabs are redistributed across the country in small refrigerated vivier lorries in air or immersed conditions, while some are sent exposed to air to the Azores archipelago with mortality reaching 40-60%. In order to optimise transport conditions and survival, simulated live transport of immersed and air exposed crabs sedated or not with an anaesthetic, AQUI-S (R), was tested at different temperatures. It was found that crabs experienced stress during the experiment (with increased L-lactate, D-glucose and lowered pH), but with different magnitudes according to temperature, treatment and transport duration, resulting in 100% mortalities at 16 degrees C in immersed conditions and when exposed to air with AQUI-S (R). Results indicate that long duration transport in semi-dry conditions is viable at low temperatures (8 degrees C), while immersed transport is viable at 12 degrees C. AQUI-S (R) was not an efficient solution at low temperatures in semi-dry conditions, but for short duration transport in immersed conditions at 16 degrees C it was the only treatment without mortality.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10