Science AI Journal
Environmental Science · Research topic

Open research questions in Crustacean biology and ecology

118 gap statements mined from Crustacean biology and ecology papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 542 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

Choosing where to publish on Crustacean biology and ecology? See the ranked Earth Science journals.

What the literature leaves open

  • The endogenous phospholipid synthesis capacity of aquatic animals is limited. There is a lack of understanding of how dietary choline affects phospholipid synthesis in Chinese mitten crab. The study aims to fill this knowledge gap.

    Effects of Dietary Choline on Endogenous Phospholipid Synthesis in Juvenile Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to understand how decapod crustaceans respond to environmental fluctuations, especially in environments subject to seasonal variation. The impact of the 2015 El Niño drought on decapod crustacean communities in coastal rivers of the Atlantic Forest in southern Bahia, Brazil is not well understood.

    Diversity Patterns of Decapod Crustaceans in Small Coastal Rivers of the Atlantic Forest in Southern Bahia, Brazil, During the El Niño Drought of 2015 · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of a reliable and universal identification key for the Brine Shrimp genus Artemia. The inconsistent assignments of the Artemia population from Kyêbxang Co to either A. tibetiana or A. sorgeloosi.

    Reassessment of the Taxonomic Identity of Artemia (Crustacea: Anostraca) from Kyêbxang Co (Tibet): Evidence for Artemia sorgeloosi Rather than Artemia tibetiana · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of observation of fluorescence in some species does not rule it out. The relevant moult stage, age, or sex may not have been observed. UV examination in other wavelengths may yield results not found in this study.

    Variation in Fluorescence in Some Northeast Atlantic Malacostraca (Pancrustacea) · 2026 · DOI

  • The Eastern Pacific is a gap in the known distribution of Galathea species. The association between Galathea species and sea urchins is not well-studied.

    A new species of Galathea (Decapoda, Galatheidae) from the seamounts of the Easter Island area (Southeast Pacific Ocean Ridge) associated with a sea urchin · 2025 · DOI

  • The lack of conclusive morphological characters to identify a new species related to A. americanus representatives. The taxonomic instability of Acetes americanus. The need for a combined morphometry and molecular analysis to resolve the taxonomic instability.

    A new southern Atlantic cryptic marine shrimp species of Acetes (Decapoda, Sergestidae) · 2024 · DOI

  • Despite its classification as ‘Endangered’, there is a gap in knowledge on the spatial and temporal distribution of this species.

    Population density and habitat use of the yellow land crab Johngarthia lagostoma on the remote Trindade Island, Brazil: implications for island conservation · 2026 · DOI

  • The evolutionary history of the giant isopod genus Bathynomus is not well understood. The migration routes of the genus are not fully reconstructed. The correlation between body size and morphological characters is not well studied.

    A new Caribbean species of the giant isopod genus Bathynomus (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cirolanidae) with notes on its evolutionary history · 2026 · DOI

  • Narrow-clawed crayfish ( Pontastacus leptodactylus) are an emergent invasive species, with limited data regarding their potential ecological impacts.

    Comparable temperature-dependent predatory impacts of two invasive crayfish, Pontastacus leptodactylus and Pacifastacus leniusculus · 2026 · DOI

  • As this stage of the species’ life history remains poorly understood, this systematic review aimed to critically analyse the literature on Giant Mud Crabs, focused on their spawning migrations.

    A Review of Giant Mud Crab Scylla serrata (Family Portunidae) Spawning Migration: The Lost Link in the Species’ Life History · 2026 · DOI

  • Though greatly enhancing knowledge to this important group, this study also highlights the need for more rigorous sampling and almost certainly more species remain to be discovered from the region.

    Additions and revisions to the family Munididae (Anomura: Galatheoidea) from South Africa, with description of a new species · 2026 · DOI

  • Photoperiod is a key environmental factor influencing the growth of crustaceans; however, its specific effects and underlying mechanisms on the early growth and molting of juvenile Macrobrachium rosenbergii remain poorly understood.

    Integrated morphological, histological, physiological, and metabolomic analyses reveal the role of photoperiod in regulating the growth and molting of juvenile Macrobrachium rosenbergii · 2025 · DOI

  • However, little is known about the effects on growth and muscle quality of mud crab fed natural diets.

    Effect of mollusks as diets on mud crab Scylla paramamosain：Growth performance and muscle quality · 2025 · DOI

  • However, little is known about whether and how the expression of pigmentation phenotypes that match the habitat background is influenced by the availability of nutritional resources.

    Nutritional effects on the expression of cryptic pigmentation in freshwater isopods · 2025 · DOI

  • However, their diversity, habitat associations, and conservation status remain understudied in Aceh Province, Indonesia.

    Diversity, distribution, and conservation status of Macrobrachium shrimp in freshwater ecosystems of Aceh, Indonesia · 2025 · DOI

  • However, little is known about the infection rate and load of this pathogen in North America.

    Prevalence and diversity of Aphanomyces astaci in cambarid crayfish of Pennsylvania: where native and introduced hosts meet · 2025 · DOI

  • The secondary sexual characteristics of male crayfish have been studied, but little is known about female crayfish.

    Cement glands as a second sexual characteristic can help to evaluate the ovarian development and reproductive spawning period of the female crayfish Procambarus clarkii · 2024 · DOI

  • Studying the genetic structure of the current cultured population can improve the breeding plan for redclaw crayfish to better manage the hybridization and germplasm bank and promote their rational utilization; however, microsatellite resources for redclaw crayfish remain insufficient.

    Analysis of seven populations of cultured redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, using newly developed microsatellite markers · 2024 · DOI

  • Despite being found in both, native and invaded areas, the life cycle and ecology of this species remain unknown.

    Growth patterns of the invasive crab Cronius ruber (Brachyura, Portunidae) in the Canary Islands (Central-East Atlantic) · 2024 · DOI

  • There is a lack of knowledge about the physical damage inflicted on snow crab by operating demersal trawl ground gears. The study aims to address this gap by investigating snow crab injury rates caused by the SCSG and RHG.

    Low injury rates on snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) overrun by demersal trawls · 2026 · DOI

  • The comparative injury effects of the SCSG relative to the RHG showed minimal differences despite theoretical predictions based on ground gear design (disc spacing and opening size). Additional comparative trials examining alternative ground gears with varying disc spacing configurations on snow crabs are warranted to establish the relationship between ground gear geometry and injury rates.

    Low injury rates on snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) overrun by demersal trawls · 2026 · DOI

  • However, studies of the effects of different pH environments on the molting and calcium absorption of Pacific white shrimp ( Litopenaeus vannamei) are relatively scarce.

    Effects of high pH on molting and calcium absorption of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) · 2025 · DOI

  • A recently published molecular phylogenetic analysis, focusing on selected Western Atlantic subspecies of Acetes americanus Ortmann, 1893 and allies, was inconclusive about relationships among these members.

    A new southern Atlantic cryptic marine shrimp species of Acetes (Decapoda, Sergestidae) · 2024 · DOI

  • Further research should investigate the long-term effects of drought and El Niño events on decapod crustacean communities, - Studies should examine the impact of different land use practices on decapod crustacean populations, - Research should focus on developing strategies for conserving and restoring decapod crustacean…

    Diversity Patterns of Decapod Crustaceans in Small Coastal Rivers of the Atlantic Forest in Southern Bahia, Brazil, During the El Niño Drought of 2015 · 2026 · DOI

  • Further study of the material from the different areas to confirm the existence of a complex of species, - Additional expeditions to collect more specimens, - Molecular analysis of more markers to support the taxonomic status of different…

    DNA barcoding and morphology revealed the existence of seven new species of squat lobsters in the family Munididae (Decapoda, Galatheoidea) in the southwestern Pacific · 2024 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Crustacean biology and ecology

Most recent work

Find a gap in your own Crustacean biology and ecology sub-topic

This page shows what the Crustacean biology and ecology literature already flags as unresolved. To narrow it to your specific question, search the Research Gap Finder: the search is free with a free account and lists the papers closest to your topic first. Unlocking that topic (50 credits, charged once) fills the comparison table from our 4.5M-paper local library and writes the gaps from its rows.

Open the Research Gap Finder →

Related topics in Environmental Science

Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
1,544 open questions
Climate variability and models
1,330 open questions
Land Use and Ecosystem Services
964 open questions
Air Quality and Health Impacts
929 open questions
Remote Sensing in Agriculture
879 open questions
Environmental Education and Sustainability
876 open questions
Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
814 open questions
Urban Green Space and Health
772 open questions
Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) There is a lack of understanding of how dietary choline affects phospholipid synthesis in Chinese mitten crab (“Effects of Dietary Choline on Endogenous Phospholipid Synthesis in Juvenile…”, 2026); (2) There is a need to understand how decapod crustaceans respond to environmental fluctuations, especially in environments subject to seasonal variation (“Diversity Patterns of Decapod Crustaceans in Small Coastal Rivers of the…”, 2026); (3) The lack of a reliable and universal identification key for the Brine Shrimp genus Artemia (“Reassessment of the Taxonomic Identity of Artemia (Crustacea: Anostraca) from…”, 2026); (4) The lack of observation of fluorescence in some species does not rule it out (“Variation in Fluorescence in Some Northeast Atlantic Malacostraca (Pancrustacea)”, 2026); (5) The evolutionary history of the giant isopod genus Bathynomus is not well understood (“A new Caribbean species of the giant isopod genus Bathynomus (Crustacea,…”, 2026). 118 gap statements have been mined from Crustacean biology and ecology papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 542 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

Tools for your next paper

Gaps & Literature SearchFind open questions in any field — 120,000+ open gaps mined from our own library.Pre-CheckIs your paper ready? Acceptance odds for top, mid and open/emerging journals, in seconds.Journal FinderA ranked shortlist of target journals from a 17,500-venue index.Duplicate Publication CheckerCheck for prior publication across 7 sources and our local library.Citation GeneratorFreeA DOI or title → APA, MLA, Vancouver, Chicago, BibTeX, RIS. No signup.Graphical Abstract MakerFreeTurn your findings into a colorblind-safe graphical abstract.

How Pre-Check worksHow AI Review works

Compare the category — Honest roundups of the AI research tools, ours listed alongside the alternatives.

Command palette

Jump anywhere, run any action.