The ornate spiny lobster, Panulirus ornatus, is a prime aquaculture candidate, however its complex life cycle comprised of several morphologically distinct stages presents a challenge to producing them through closed life-cycle aquaculture. Research has previously been focused on the larval and adult stages to address key issues faced by industry, resulting in a limited understanding of the morphological development, and staging of P. ornatus embryogenesis.
A comprehensive transcriptome comprising 11 stages across P. ornatus embryogenesis has been established, facilitating the characterisation of a series of key genes across embryo development. Nanos and brachyury, two gastrula-specific genes, indicate gastrulation occurs early in the embryogenesis period. Neuropeptide expression was reported across P. ornatus embryos, suggesting they are predominantly active later in embryogenesis as the nervous system develops.
Whilst gene expression is useful for characterising embryogenesis, this cannot be utilised to monitor live developing embryos in industry. Certain characteristic, such as eye spot development, provide a visual indicator of development. Hatch prediction models based on visual characteristics were shown to be an accurate method to predict the timing of the hatch for P. ornatus embryos kept at 26°C. The combination of transcriptomics and visual measures provides a basis for future characterisation and staging of P. ornatus embryogenesis.