The daggerblade grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio Holthuis, 1949 is prevalent in estuaries along the East and Gulf coasts of the United States, and is an integral part of the estuarine food web. Probopyrus pandalicola (Packard, 1879) is a bopyrid isopod that parasitizes P. pugio and decreases the energy available to its host by feeding on the hemolymph of the shrimp. The parasite also causes female shrimp to be castrated. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Probopyrus pandalicola on the survival time of P. pugio during starvation at two different temperatures. The experiment was conducted between September 2009 and June 2012 at 20.0 ± O.irC and 25.0 ± 0.10°C. Three trials at each temperature were performed. For each trial, parasitized, deparasitized and unparasitized shrimp were randomly placed into individual aquaria in a temperature-controlled chamber. All trials lasted until 100% shrimp mortality occurred. The bopyrid isopod did have a significant effect on shrimp survival times, but only at the higher temperature during which parasitized shrimp survived a significantly shorter amount of time (21.8 ± 6.93 days) than unparasitized shrimp (25.2 ± 8.25 days). In contrast, the bopyrid did not have a significant effect on shrimp survival times at the lower temperature, with shrimp surviving an average of 26.9-27.5 days. The results of this study have implications related to potential climate change, specifically higher temperatures, as we found that a small increase in temperature significantly affected the response of P. pugio to the isopod parasite. This supports prior research on other host-parasite interactions that are affected by increased temperature. RESUME La crevette bouquet Palaemonetes pugio Holthuis, 1949 est fréquente dans les estuaires le long des côtes Est et du Golfe des Etats Unis, et elle fait partie intégrante de la chaine alimentaire. Probopyrus EFFECTS OF PROBOPYRUS INFECTION ON PALAEMONETES 1329l'énergie utilisable par son hôte en se nourrissant sur l'hémolymphe de la crevette. Le parasite provoque aussi la castration des femelles. Le but de cette étude a été de déterminer les effets de Probopyrus pandalicola sur le temps de survie de P. pugio au cours d'un jeûne à deux températures différentes. L'expérience a été conduite entre Septembre 2009 et Juin 2012 à 20,0 ± O,irC et 25,0 ± 0,10°C. Trois essais ont été effectués à chaque température. Pour chaque essai, des crevettes parasitées, déparasitées et non parasitées ont été placées au hasard dans des aquariums individuels dans une chambre à température contrôlée. Tous les essais ont duré jusqu'à la mort de 100% des crevettes. Les isopodes bopyridés ont eu un effet significatif sur les temps de survie, mais seulement à la plus haute température, pour laquelle les crevettes parasitées survivent un laps de temps plus court (21,8 ± 6,93 d [= jours]) que les crevettes non parasitées (25,2 ± 8,25 d). Par contre les bopyridés n'ont pas eu d'effet significatif sur les temps de survie des crevettes à la plus basse température, avec u...
Probopyrus pandalicola is a bopyrid isopod that infects several palaemonid shrimp species, including the daggerblade grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio . The parasite can have several negative effects on its host, including loss of hemolymph, reduced reproductive potential, and decreased molting frequency and growth. To date, there are conflicting reports on whether Probopyrus pandalicola affects the reproductive capability of both male and female daggerblade grass shrimp. The purpose of this study was to determine whether infection by Probopyrus pandalicola resulted in the sexual sterilization of Palaemonetes pugio , and if the reproductive capability of male and/or female shrimp was restored after the bopyrid was removed. We found that parasitized and deparasitized males were able to fertilize the eggs of unparasitized females successfully, as 18.9 ± 7.1% and 42.7 ± 5.2% of the females paired with them became ovigerous in 4 wk, respectively. Neither parasitized nor deparasitized females became ovigerous when placed with unparasitized males during the 4-wk period. However, 45.4 ± 20.6% of deparasitized females did become ovigerous within 10 wk. Despite the fact that female shrimp are able to reproduce again when no longer parasitized, the majority of females remain infected with the bopyrid for their entire lives. Therefore, the sexual sterilization of female shrimp could potentially have a significant impact on estuarine food webs, as grass shrimp are conduits of detrital energy and a food source for many recreationally and commercially important species in estuaries on the East Coast of the United States and in the Gulf of Mexico.
The process of exploration and the methods that scientists use to conduct research are fundamental to science education. In this activity, authentic scientific practices are used to develop hypotheses to explain the natural world. Students observe grass shrimp in aquaria and construct an ethogram, which is a compilation of the observable behaviors an animal exhibits. They then conduct an experiment, just as real scientists would, to determine how changes in the environment alter shrimp behavior. This activity is designed for a fourth-grade science class and allows students to experience the excitement of observing a live organism while learning about scientific inquiry, and also reinforces quantification and graphing skills. “Do You See What I See” covers Next Generation Science Standards and addresses the science and engineering practices of engaging in argument from evidence.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.