Ontogenetic changes in digestive proteases and carbohydrases from the Australian freshwater crayfish, redclaw Cherax quadricarinatus (Crustacea, Decapoda, Parastacidae)

摘要

Juvenile redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, show non-selective feeding behaviour when commencing feeding, but change to a dietary preference for plant material as they grow. This study aimed to find any ontogenic changes in digestive enzymes that might be associated with the change of diet. The enzymes in the digestive tract initially showed high levels of proteases and low levels of carbohydrases, but as the crayfish grew, the levels of proteases fell and the levels of the carbohydrases generally rose, in parallel with the increased preference for plant food. Cellulase was present in all free-living stages. Dietary requirements of juvenile redclaw are probably quite similar to those of larger specimens.