| Popis: |
Crustaceans play a considerable ecological role in both marine and freshwater trophic networks. Although the vast majority of crustaceans are theoretically edible by humans, only rather large and common species are generally collected. As a matter of fact, decapods (crabs, shrimps, lobsters) constitute the vast majority of crustaceans eaten by humans. Many crustaceans have been used as remedies since antiquity and are still used in some countries. Some crustaceans are considered pests because of their predation on fish or the impact of their burrowing activities on the stability of dikes. Crustaceans are linked to human health through two aspects: firstly as toxic food items; and secondly as intermediate hosts for pathogenic bacteria or parasites. It is quite understandable that crustaceans, being mostly aquatic, rather inconspicuous animals, have played a lesser role in history, art, or mythology than vertebrates, primarily mammals, birds, and reptiles. Keywords: burrowing activities; crustaceans; decapods; freshwater trophic networks; marine trophic netwrorks; pathogenic bacteria; toxic food items |
