Collection, handling and care of cephalopod eggs

Abstract Research on cephalopod early ontogeny has significantly advanced in recent decades, including embryo organogenesis and neurogenesis and early behavioural adaptations, particularly in commercially important and coastal species. Within this context, here we compiled current knowledge on the collection, handling and care under experimental conditions and monitoring in the field of cephalopod eggs and egg masses. It covers field observations and egg collection methods, as well as laboratory incubation protocols for eggs maintained with and without maternal care. It is emphasized how abiotic and biotic factors, including temperature, salinity, oxygen and maternal condition, shape embryonic development and hatchling survival and viability. Monitoring methods for cephalopod egg masses in the wild and the effects of natural threats such as storms and predators are reviewed. Anthropogenic impacts such as pollution, fisheries and climate change are also discussed. Technological advances have enabled finer analysis of neural development as the embryo grows, while ethical considerations regarding embryonic sentience capacity and welfare conditions are becoming central to current experimental designs. Based on current knowledge, it is recommended to apply ethical considerations and the 3Rs principle (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) for cephalopod embryos following the onset of organogenesis. Thus, a list of potential indicators of health and welfare that could be used for assessing and monitoring cephalopod embryos and hatchlings is proposed. Overall, this synthesis aims to serve as a guide for advancing egg collection and laboratory incubation methodologies, as well as adopting ethical handling protocols to improve cephalopod embryo care and quality.

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Publication Details

Journal
Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries
Published
2025-12-06
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-025-10017-0
Primary Topic
Cephalopods and Marine Biology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Collection, handling and care of cephalopod eggs

Gabriela Rodríguez‐Fuentes, Michael J. Kuba, Alice Goerger, Anaïd Gouveneaux et al.
Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries
Cephalopods and Marine Biology
article

Collection, handling and care of cephalopod eggs

Gabriela Rodríguez‐Fuentes, Michael J. Kuba, Alice Goerger, Anaïd Gouveneaux, Rui Rosa, Giovanni Diego Masucci, Lloyd A. Trueblood, James F. Peyla, Roger Villanueva, Anne‐Sophie Darmaillacq, Ali M. Elagoz, Ryuta Nakajima, Ángel Guerra, Sylvia Lima de Souza Medeiros, Katina Roumbedakis, Owen C. Nichols, Oscar Escolar, Ludovic Dickel, Satoshi Tomano, Érica Alves González Vidal, Claudia Caamal‐Monsreal, Gjendine Voss, Antoine Minet, Clara E. Galindo‐Sánchez, Konstantinos Ganias, Thomas Lacoue‐Labarthe, Fernando Ángel Fernández‐Álvarez, Nicolás Ortíz, Eduardo Almansa, Mélanie Court, Christelle Jozet‐Alves, Bret Grasse, Carlos Rosas, C. Gibbons, Erica D. Durante, Jaruwat Nabhitabhata, Janina Leonie Röckner, Diego G. Vilarnau, Lucía Martínez-Yebra
article en

Abstract

Abstract Research on cephalopod early ontogeny has significantly advanced in recent decades, including embryo organogenesis and neurogenesis and early behavioural adaptations, particularly in commercially important and coastal species. Within this context, here we compiled current knowledge on the collection, handling and care under experimental conditions and monitoring in the field of cephalopod eggs and egg masses. It covers field observations and egg collection methods, as well as laboratory incubation protocols for eggs maintained with and without maternal care. It is emphasized how abiotic and biotic factors, including temperature, salinity, oxygen and maternal condition, shape embryonic development and hatchling survival and viability. Monitoring methods for cephalopod egg masses in the wild and the effects of natural threats such as storms and predators are reviewed. Anthropogenic impacts such as pollution, fisheries and climate change are also discussed. Technological advances have enabled finer analysis of neural development as the embryo grows, while ethical considerations regarding embryonic sentience capacity and welfare conditions are becoming central to current experimental designs. Based on current knowledge, it is recommended to apply ethical considerations and the 3Rs principle (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) for cephalopod embryos following the onset of organogenesis. Thus, a list of potential indicators of health and welfare that could be used for assessing and monitoring cephalopod embryos and hatchlings is proposed. Overall, this synthesis aims to serve as a guide for advancing egg collection and laboratory incubation methodologies, as well as adopting ethical handling protocols to improve cephalopod embryo care and quality.

Reviews in Fish Biology and FisheriesVol. 36(1)
La Sierra University (US), National Technological University (AR), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Prince of Songkla University (TH), Marine Biological Laboratory (US), Universiti Sains Malaysia (MY), University of Lisbon (PT), Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (JP), Mount St. Joseph University (US), University of South Australia (AU), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (GR), Italian Institute of Technology (IT), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (BR), Sociedad Española de Medicina Interna (ES), Instituto Español de Oceanografía (ES), Instituto de Investigacións Mariñas (ES), Institut Català de Ciències del Clima (ES), Normandie Université (FR), University of Minnesota, Duluth (US), Sociedad Española de Farmacología Clínica (ES), Duluth Business University (US), Center for Coastal Studies (US), Centro Científico Tecnológico Patagónico (AR), Institut de Ciències del Mar (ES), Instituto Volcanológico de Canarias (ES), Sociedad Española de Cardiología (ES), Ethologie animale et humaine (FR), Centro Oceanográfico de Gijón, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (MX), Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (MX), University of Naples Federico II (IT), The University of Tokyo (JP), Columbia University (US), La Rochelle Université (FR), University of Genoa (IT), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (MX), Université de Caen Normandie (FR), KU Leuven (BE)
Wenner-Gren Stiftelserna, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, European Commission, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vlaamse regering, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo, European Regional Development Fund, Agencia Estatal de Investigación
Openalex Percentile: Top 71%
Cephalopods and Marine Biology
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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