Copyright (c) 2013 Roger Williams University All rights reserved. http://docs.rwu.edu/biology_theses Recent documents in Biology Theses en-us Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:52:52 PST 3600 http://docs.rwu.edu/biology_theses/2 http://docs.rwu.edu/biology_theses/2 Fri, 04 May 2012 08:45:58 PDT Crustaceans are economically and ecologically significant, but current treatment and diagnostic protocols for crustacean health are limited. According to standards given by the American Veterinary Medical Association there are no current methods of euthanizing lobsters, nor are there effective methods of quick release anesthesia. The objective of this research demonstrated that eugenol by direct injection is a safe, efficient and reliable method for euthanizing or anesthetizing crustaceans. Anesthetic levels were determined by behavior responses, death was determined by a lack of response to stimuli. The results presented here suggest eugenol can be used as a euthanizing agent for American lobsters (Homarus americanus) and green crabs (carcinus maenas) injected into the sinusoidal circulatory system at a dose of 7µl/g dissolved in a solution of 70% ethanol and sterile sea water injected into the pericardial sac.

]]> Carlton Huntsberger http://docs.rwu.edu/biology_theses/1 http://docs.rwu.edu/biology_theses/1 Wed, 11 May 2011 06:05:04 PDT Class Cephalopoda is thought to contain the most intelligent invertebrates thus far discovered. It has been found that cuttlefish have the capacity for learning (Boal et al. 2000, Darmillaq et al. 2003, Darmillaq et al 2006, Graindorge et al., 2006; Karson, Boal and Hanlon, 2003). It has also been shown that cuttlefish can navigate in sophisticated ways, such as within a maze (Graindorge, et al., 2006; Karson, Boal and Hanlon, 2003). The goal of this experiment is to determine the correlation between learning and navigation in cuttlefish. Cuttlefish were placed in an oval tank divided into 24 quadrants with 8 smaller buckets within it to provide shelter. A food reward was then placed into the tank, and the time spent in each quadrant, as well as when the food was retrieved, was recorded. The trials were repeated 5 times with each cuttlefish. The data was used to analyze efficiency to food capture, both in number of quadrants traveled and time expended. It was found that time significantly improved over the course of the trials, but quadrants traveled did not. More study in cuttlefish navigation strategies is necessary.

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