Approaches to Determining Reference Values of Physiological Parameters of Freshwater Crayfish (Decapoda, Astacidae)

Abstract

Physiological parameters objectively reflect the health state of the organism and can serve as effective auxiliary criteria in determining the quality of the environment. However, significant variability of physiological and biochemical parameters is known in invertebrates, and, in particular, in crustaceans. In order to overcome these limitations and increase certainty in the assessment of the biological effects of toxicants, the authors proposed approaches and methods for the selection of reference groups of crayfish based on monitoring of their heart rate at rest and under the short-term standardized functional tests, allowing to assess the functional state of crayfish and their adaptive capabilities.