Effects of food limitation and pharmaceuticals compounds on the larval development of a marine invertebrate

Abstract

We studied the combined effects of pharmaceu tical compounds and food limitation on growth, development and body mass of larval stages of the marine shrimp Palaemon serratus . Effects of emergent compounds on growth and development of early lif e stages may be stronger when organisms are under some additional stress (González-Ortegón et al 2013) . Coastal marine organisms such as the marine shrimp Palaemon serratus develop in a heterogeneous environment charact erised by variations in food conditions (Mann & Lazier 2006). Under food limited c onditions larvae of this marine species developed through an increased number of stages, especially in warmer waters, resulting in increased duration of development (González-Ortegón and Giménez 2013).