Developmental Biology and Larval Ecology

Abstract

This volume examines Developmental Biology and Larval Ecology, Chapters in this volume synthesize our current understanding of early crustacean development from the egg through the embryonic and larval phase. The first part of this volume focuses on the fundamental aspects of crustacean embryonic development. The second part of the book provides an account of the larval phase of crustaceans and describes processes that influence the development from hatching to an adult-like juvenile. The third and final part of the book explores ecological interactions during the planktonic phase and how crustacean larvae manage to find food, navigate the dynamic water column, and avoid predators in a medium that offers few refuges. Collectively, these fifteen chapters provide a thorough overview of our present knowledge across the major themes in crustacean developmental biology and larval ecology. We expect this volume will be valuable to scholars and students who are interested in gaining deeper insights into the processes that lead from a single cell to subsequent stages of life and how - growing organisms face the challenges posed by their environment.