Physiological and Behavioral Indicators to Measure Crustacean Welfare

摘要

The purpose of this project was to determine how neural circuits were affected during warming by examining sensory neurons, the neuromuscular junction, and the cardiac function and behavior of the commercially important crustacean species, the red swamp crayfish ( ). Various rates of heating at 1 °C/min, 12 °C/min, or 46 °C/min to 80 °C as well as placing crayfish directly in boiling water were examined. Sensory nerves and the neuromuscular junction will stop working at 44 °C within two minutes. The heart ceases functioning fastest (within 10 s) when placing the crayfish directly in boiling water, which is the quickest method to kill them while minimizing exposure to noxious stimuli.