Moulting Strategies in Freshwater Crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus

摘要

Newly moulted soft-shelled crayfish run a very high risk of being preyed upon by other cray- fish. If crayfish synchronise their moutl, it would lower the probability for an individual of being injured or killed during the moulting period, by lowering the risk of being cannibalised. An experiment was thus conducted to test whether there is a difference in moulting strategy Between isolated Pacifastacus leniusculus and socially kept P. leniusculus, by assessing moult- Ing date, weight and length of isolated, and, socially kept adult crayfish of both sexes.