Suitability of the clonal marbled crayfish for biogerontological research: a review and perspective, with remarks on some further crustaceans

Abstract

This article examines the suitability of the parthenogenetic marbled crayfish for research on ageing and longevity. The marbled crayfish is an emerging laboratory model for development, epigenetics and toxicology that produces up to 400 genetically identical siblings per batch. It is easily cultured, has an adult size of 4-9 cm, a generation time of 6-7 months and a life span of 2-3 years. Experimental data and biological peculiarities like isogenicity, direct development, indeterminate growth, high regeneration capacity and negligible senescence suggest that the marbled crayfish is particularly suitable to investigate the dependency of ageing and longevity from non-genetic factors such as stochastic developmental variation, allocation of metabolic resources, damage and repair, caloric restriction and social stress. It is also well applicable to examine alterations of the epigenetic code with increasing age and to identify mechanisms that keep stem cells active until old age. As a representative of the sparsely investigated crustaceans and of animals with indeterminate growth and extended brood care the marbled crayfish may even contribute to evolutionary theories of ageing and longevity. Some relatives are recommended as substitutes for investigation of topics, for which the marbled crayfish is less suitable like genetics of ageing and achievement of life spans of decades under conditions of low food and low temperature. Research on ageing in the marbled crayfish and its relatives is of practical relevance for crustacean fisheries and aquaculture and may offer starting points for the development of novel anti-ageing interventions in humans.

Expansion of the marbled crayfish in Slovakia: beginning of an invasion in the Danube catchment?

“…2), indicate at least two seasonal clutches of the marbled crayfish in studied sites. It is estimated that under the laboratory conditions, the marbled crayfish can complete up to seven reproduction cycles during its lifespan of 2 to 3 years, and the generation time is about 6-7 months (Vogt, 2010). The amount of juveniles increases with each cycle in relation to size increase of the maternal individuals (Vogt, 2011), and may reach very high values for large females.…”

Marmorkrebs: Natural crayfish clone as emerging model for various biological disciplines

“…In the last decade, the Marmorkrebs or marbled crayfish (figure 1A) has become very popular among hobby aquarists and researchers (Vogt 2008a(Vogt , 2010Faulkes 2010). The name comes from its typical coloration that resembles marble.…”

“…The marbled crayfish grows step-wise by moulting, passing approximately 25 moulting cycles in its lifetime. Adult marbled crayfish usually have body lengths of 4-8 cm (without chelae) and weights of 1.5-15 g. Very large specimens can reach 12 cm and more than 25 g. In the laboratory, the average lifespan of the adults was 720 days, but the record is 1610 days (Vogt 2010). Marbled crayfish can be kept either individually or communally in simple housing systems.…”

The Influence of Heavy Metal Ions on the Viability and Metabolic Enzyme Activity of the Marbled Crayfish <i>Procambarus virginalis</i> (Lyko, 2017)

“…All individuals are females, which are genetically identical to the parent [27]. Thus, marbled crayfish can be used as indicative model objects in biological research [12,28,29].…”