**Class: "Aquatic Life 202: The World of Crustaceans"**

**Unit: 5.4 "Reproduction and Lifecycle in Crayfish"**

**Date: June 14, 2023**

**Notes:**

1. **Sexual Dimorphism:** Crayfish are sexually dimorphic, with separate male and
female individuals. Male crayfish have modified pleopods (swimming legs) used in
the transfer of sperm, while females have a seminal receptacle for sperm storage.

2. **Mating Behavior:** During the mating process, the male deposits a sperm packet
(spermatophore) into the female's seminal receptacle. This mating often takes place
before the female molts, with the male guarding the female until molting occurs to
protect her when she's vulnerable.

3. **Egg Fertilization and Attachment:** After molting, the female fertilizes her
eggs using the stored sperm and attaches them to her swimmerets. This stage is
commonly referred to as "in berry" due to the berry-like appearance of the egg
clusters.

4. **Egg Hatching and Development:** The eggs remain attached to the female's
swimmerets until they hatch into miniature adult crayfish, passing through a series
of molts. This form of direct development without a larval stage is typical of
crayfish.

5. **Parental Care:** Female crayfish exhibit a form of parental care, carrying the
eggs and newly hatched offspring under their tail for protection until the young
are capable of fending for themselves.

6. **Lifecycle and Growth:** Growth in crayfish is tied to their molting cycle. As

they outgrow their exoskeleton, they molt and grow a new, larger exoskeleton. This
process continues throughout their life.

For next class, we will explore variations in reproductive strategies among

different crayfish species and how environmental factors can influence crayfish
reproduction and population dynamics.