Uca pugilator

About: Uca pugilator is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 376 publications have been published within this topic receiving 12303 citations.

Genetics and evolution of the hemocyanin multigene—I. Genetic variability in UCA pugilator from beaufort, NC

Abstract: 1. 1. Hemocyanin from Uca pugilator is a polymer of peptides coded for by 6 distinct loci. 2. 2. Naturally occurring allelic variation provides evidence that 4 of these loci may be located on a single chromosome. 3. 3. A model for the evolution of an arthropodan hemocyanin multigene is presented based on genetic and biochemical data.

Effects of melatonin on hemolymph glucose and lactate concentrations in the fiddler crab, uca pugilator

Abstract: Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an indolamine hormone produced by the pineal gland that works to regulate sleep/wake cycles and activity rhythms. The effects of melatonin in metabolism are far from understood. Melatonin was injected into the fiddler crab, Uea pugilator, to investigate the effects of melatonin on hemolymph glucose and lactate levels. Following injection at t=O, hemolymph samples were collected at t=O.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 5.0 hours. Melatonin caused a decrease in the stress response to injection and also caused delayed hyperglycemia. Melatonin-injected crabs also retained the glucose and lactate rhythymicity when compared to saline-injected crabs. Glucose and lactate rhythms followed the same pattern indicating Lhat the cycles are coupled. Also, melatonin was synthesized using tbe Fischer Indole synthesis and characterized using HINMR. The synthetic melatonin demonstrated biological activity when injected into the crabs as when compared to pure melatonin on the effects on glucose and lactate concentrations. Overall. melatonin influences both glucose metabolism and the production of lactate.

Osmoregulation in the euryhaline fiddler crab uca pugilator: participation of the individual gills.

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the osmoregulation in the euryhaline fiddler crab, Uca pugilator. The Uca pugilator is a good hyperosmotic regulator in diluted sea water and in a more limited range also a hypoosmotic regulator in concentrated sea water. It is well documented that in decapode crustacea, the gills take the main part in hyperosmotic extracellular regulation. There are evidences that sodium extrusion in hyperosmotic medium takes place in the gills. In the posterior gills of animals adapted to normal sea water, the specific activity of ATPase is 2.5–5 times higher as in the anterior gills. The specific activity of succinicdehydrogenase does not increase in the posterior gills whereas in the anterior gills, it is actually diminished significantly. This may be because of the fact that the protein is increased. In concentrated medium, a tendency of decrease of both enzyme activities is noticed. Light and electron microscopic studies prove that the anterior gills have a thin single-layered epithelium with few cell organelles and poorly differentiated membranes. The cells show typical structures of a salt transporting epithelium like deep basal and remarkable apikal infoldings of the plasma membranes.

Cycle: a histochemical study of the fiddler crab,

Abstract: Histochemical data support the previous biochemical finding that the blood is a major site for the production of proteinaceous and diphenolic substances for tanning ofthe cuticle in the fiddler crab, Uca pugilator. Five types ofhemocytes are described. Specifically in tanning, the hyaline cells (cystocytes) appear responsible for the pro duction ofdiphenolic tanning agents whereas the granulocytes synthesize the proteins involved. Other types of hemocyte may be transitional forms involved in clotting (intermediate cells). Various histochemical reactions for each type of hemocyte and the cuticle are recorded throughout the molting cycle, and appear cyclic. The data suggest there is hormonal control of the cyclic events during the tanning process.

Density, Shell Use and Species Composition of Juvenile Fiddler Crabs (Uca spp.) at Low and High Anthropogenic Impact Salt Marsh Sites

Abstract: Coastal wetlands worldwide have been negatively impacted by humans, causing decreases in the vegetation used as a refuge from predation by juveniles of many species. This study examined juvenile fiddler crab densities and species composition (Uca pugnax, Uca pugilator, and Uca minax), and their use of gastropod shells (Littorina littoraria), at three low and three high impact sites on barrier islands in southeast Georgia. On six dates in June–August 2010, samples were taken from 10 quadrats (1 m2) at each site to determine juvenile fiddler crab densities and species composition, as well as gastropod shell densities and percent shell use. Multiplex PCR was used to identify juvenile fiddler crabs to species. Juvenile fiddler crab densities were lower at high impact sites, while gastropod shell densities and shell use were similar at both low and high impact sites. Species compositions differed between low and high impact sites on the substrate and in shells, with more U. pugilator and U. minax at high impact sites. A change in fiddler crab densities and species composition could cause a substantial change in southeastern salt marshes.