ABSTRACT
Growth and molting are intimately linked in crustaceans, making comparisons of growth between crustaceans and other organisms difficult. However, in this chapter we review an aspect of growth physiology which appears common to all organisms, the regulation of biomass accumulation. With a cybernetic model of growth we test the hypothesis that biomass accumulation is internally regulated by a negative feedback mechanism in Rhithropanopeus harrisii larvae. We review previously published data, present new data consistent with that hypothesis, and discuss both the usefulness and limitations of a model for growth regulation.
