First record of the association between Lychnorhiza lucerna (Scyphozoa, Rhizostomeae) and Cyrtograpsus affinis (Decapoda, Varunidae)

Abstract

ABSTRACT.We report the association between the jellyfish Lychnorhiza lucerna and the crab Cyrtograpsus affinis. Numerous examples of associations between medusae and brachyurans have been observed in the field and noted in the literature. All of these cases involve medusae of the Class Scyphozoa and crabs belonging to the families Majidae and Portunidae. The presence of three individuals of C. affinis within the subgenital space of L. lucerna constitutes a striking finding since none species of this brachyuran family (Varunidae) has been previously reported associated to scyphomedusae. Keywords: symbiosis, jellyfish, brachyurans, Río de la Plata, southwestern Atlantic, Argentina.Primer registro de la asociación entre Lychnorhiza lucerna (Scyphozoa, Rhizostomeae) y Cyrtograpsus affinis (Decapoda, Varunidae) RESUMEN. Se reporta la asociación entre la medusa Lychnorhiza lucerna y el cangrejo Cyrtograpsus affinis. Existen numerosos ejemplos de asociaciones entre medusas y brachiuros mencionados en la literatura. Todos ellos involucran a las medusas de la Clase Scyphozoa y a cangrejos pertenecientes a las familias Majidae y Portunidae. La presencia de tres individuos de C. affinis dentro de la cavidad subgenital de L. lucerna es un hecho llamativo dado que, hasta el momento, no se había reportado a ninguna especie de esta familia de brachiuros (Varunidae) asociada con medusas de la Clase Scyphozoa.

Decapod crustacean associations with scyphozoan jellyfish (Rhizostomeae: Pelagiidae) in the Southeastern Brazilian coast

“…It is interesting that the wide salinity variation found between the three sites in the present study appeared not to influence the ability of crabs to associate with medusae. Schiariti et al (2012) also found individuals of the Grapsoidea superfamily together with Libinia sp. while another Grapsoidea, Planes major (MacLeay, 1838), has been found in association with other hosts as turtles (Pfaller et al 2014).…”

“…Morandini (2003) studied juvenile L. lucerna medusae in the Cananéia region, and observed the jellyfish bloom during the spring season. The initial ephyra phases develops into the medusa phase during the following season and the life span is 5-6 months (Schiariti 2008;Sal Moyano et al 2012). It is after the ephyra phase, that the L. lucerna medusae becomes associated with decapod larvae (Sal Moyano et al 2012).…”

“…Previous studies have documented associations of decapod crustaceans such as caridean shrimps (Palaemonoidea) (Marliave and Mills 1993;Moore et al 1993;Martinelli Filho et al 2008) and brachyuran crabs (Majoidea and Grapsoidea) (Nogueira and Haddad 2005;Sal Moyano et al 2012;Schiariti et al 2012) with scyphozoan in the medusoidphase. On the southern and southeastern coasts of Brazil, jellyfish, are accidentally captured as bycatch during trawlfishing for target species such as the seabob shrimp, Xiphopenaeus kroyeri (Heller, 1862) (Graça-Lopes et al 2002;Schroeder et al 2014).…”

Medusae (Scyphozoa and Cubozoa) from southwestern Atlantic and Subantarctic region (32 60S, 34 70W): species composition, spatial distribution and life history traits

“…However, their accumulations and mass occurrences have been reported almost exclusively between January and March. Specimens ranging from 5 to 48 cm always had mature gonads (Schiariti, 2008;Schiariti et al, 2012).…”

Jellyfish fisheries in the Americas: origin, state of the art, and perspectives on new fishing grounds

“…However, numerous species of juvenile fishes have been documented to associate with jellyfish, presumably using the medusae as food and/or refugia from predators (e.g., Jones 1960;Arai 1988;Kingsford 1993;Brodeur 1998;Purcell and Arai 2001;López-Martínez and Rodríguez-Romero 2008;Mianzan et al 2014). In addition, many invertebrates are known to associate with jellyfish, potentially benefitting from habitat, food, refugia, and transportation (e.g., Brandon and Cutress 1985;Arai 2005;Browne and Kingsford 2005;Towanda and Thuesen 2006;Sal Moyano et al 2012;Schiariti et al 2012b;Á lvarezTello et al 2013;Fleming et al 2014). As such, bycatch concerns from jellyfish fisheries cannot be eliminated entirely, and will likely increase with seine or trawl gears (Panda and Madhu 2009).…”