Decapod crustacean (Ranina ranina) respirometry and haemolypmh analysis

This proposed research project aimed to determine the magnitude of the effect of identified key stressors on spanner crab as well as trial handling and transport techniques for efficiency. Intermittent flow was used to quantify the effect of temperature variation and hypoxia on spanner crab metabolic rate. Hemolymph sample analysis was used to determine the biochemical effect of hypoxia and transport techniques to be trialed on spanner crab. Finally, mortalities were recorded for all transport treatments. Treatments trialed offshore and compared are cold stunning and sedation – treatments that have previously yielded positive results in a similar context (Poole and Exely 2020). The goal, to further our knowledge regarding spanner crab physiology and possibly identify offshore transport practices that increase spanner crab survivorship.

本拟开展的研究项目旨在明确已识别的关键胁迫因子对扳手蟹（spanner crab）的影响程度，并试验优化其处理与运输工艺以提升作业效率。研究采用间歇流法量化温度波动与低氧（hypoxia）胁迫对扳手蟹代谢率的影响；通过血淋巴（hemolymph）样本分析，明确低氧胁迫及拟试验运输工艺对扳手蟹的生化效应；同时记录所有运输处理组的死亡率。本次近海开展的对比试验处理方式为低温致晕（cold stunning）与镇静处理（sedation）——此类处理方案此前在同类研究场景中已取得积极成果（Poole与Exely，2020）。本研究的核心目标在于深化对扳手蟹生理学的认知，并有望筛选出可提升扳手蟹存活率的近海运输工艺。