13
with water flushes from the funnel). Indeed, the oceanic squid female simply holds
in her arms the gelatinous egg mass she has produced; the female probably starves
while serving as a floating device for the egg mass.
1.3.4.3 Post-Spawning Period and Senescence
In most shallow-water cephalopod species cultured until now, the senescent period
is preceded by a phase of reduced or even arrested food ingestion, starting with the
first spawning events (Anderson et al. 2002). The egg-laying period is located at the
very end of the individual’s life in most shallow-water species and is followed by
a relatively quick and degenerative metabolic process. Some exceptions in coleoid
cephalopods are deep-sea cephalopods with protracted spawning periods such as
cirrate octopods, in which sexual maturity probably occupies most of their life cycle
and egg laying is not directly related with the end of the life cycle and senescence
(Collins and Villanueva 2006). Skin lesions and some diseases could also be an
early symptom of senescence, such as coccidiosis, that has been reported among
the most prevalent diseases of coastal octopuses leading to a poor condition (Gestal
et al. 2007; Moltschaniwskyj et al. 2007; Pascual et al. 2010, Chap. 6).
1.4 Conclusion
The most general aim of cephalopod cultures may be highlighted as a programme
of the utmost comprehensive cephalopod biology. The biological requirements of a
cultured species must be thoroughly understood during all the phases of its life cycle.
Such a broad and deep understanding will rarely exist ready prior to a culture experiment, so in general the experimental approach is inescapable. Or—to put it in more
elegant terms—the bottom-up view of the experimental biologist applying available
bits of knowledge needs to be seconded by the top-down view of the experienced
biologist judging from his/her comprehensive knowledge of specific lifestyles,
behavioural repertoires and physiological conditions at all life stages that have to be
considered. The know-how actually needed in cephalopod culture has to result from
continued confrontation and combination of these complementary views.
Only such an ambitious form of know-how warrants a practice that will hopefully stand the test of existing regulations on animal welfare.
References
Anderson RC, Wood JB, Byrne RA (2002) Octopus senescence: the beginning of the end. J Appl
Anim Welf Sci 4:275–283
Andrade JP, Baptista FD, Sykes AV, Porta JM, Porta J (2012) Genetic variation in consecutive generations of cultured cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis. Cephalopod International Advisory Council
Symposium, 27 Oct—2 Nov 2012, Florianópolis, Brazil, Abstracts Book
1 Cephalopod Biology
with water flushes from the funnel). Indeed, the oceanic squid female simply holds
in her arms the gelatinous egg mass she has produced; the female probably starves
while serving as a floating device for the egg mass.
1.3.4.3 Post-Spawning Period and Senescence
In most shallow-water cephalopod species cultured until now, the senescent period
is preceded by a phase of reduced or even arrested food ingestion, starting with the
first spawning events (Anderson et al. 2002). The egg-laying period is located at the
very end of the individual’s life in most shallow-water species and is followed by
a relatively quick and degenerative metabolic process. Some exceptions in coleoid
cephalopods are deep-sea cephalopods with protracted spawning periods such as
cirrate octopods, in which sexual maturity probably occupies most of their life cycle
and egg laying is not directly related with the end of the life cycle and senescence
(Collins and Villanueva 2006). Skin lesions and some diseases could also be an
early symptom of senescence, such as coccidiosis, that has been reported among
the most prevalent diseases of coastal octopuses leading to a poor condition (Gestal
et al. 2007; Moltschaniwskyj et al. 2007; Pascual et al. 2010, Chap. 6).
1.4 Conclusion
The most general aim of cephalopod cultures may be highlighted as a programme
of the utmost comprehensive cephalopod biology. The biological requirements of a
cultured species must be thoroughly understood during all the phases of its life cycle.
Such a broad and deep understanding will rarely exist ready prior to a culture experiment, so in general the experimental approach is inescapable. Or—to put it in more
elegant terms—the bottom-up view of the experimental biologist applying available
bits of knowledge needs to be seconded by the top-down view of the experienced
biologist judging from his/her comprehensive knowledge of specific lifestyles,
behavioural repertoires and physiological conditions at all life stages that have to be
considered. The know-how actually needed in cephalopod culture has to result from
continued confrontation and combination of these complementary views.
Only such an ambitious form of know-how warrants a practice that will hopefully stand the test of existing regulations on animal welfare.
References
Anderson RC, Wood JB, Byrne RA (2002) Octopus senescence: the beginning of the end. J Appl
Anim Welf Sci 4:275–283
Andrade JP, Baptista FD, Sykes AV, Porta JM, Porta J (2012) Genetic variation in consecutive generations of cultured cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis. Cephalopod International Advisory Council
Symposium, 27 Oct—2 Nov 2012, Florianópolis, Brazil, Abstracts Book
1 Cephalopod Biology