Metamorphosis of the estuarine crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii:effect of water type and adult odor

Fitzgerald, Timothy P.; Forward, Richard B.; Tankersley, Richard A.

doi:10.3354/meps165217

Cited by 32 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Among the Brachyura, a delay of metamorphosis is common in estuarine species. This was observed in the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), a mud crab (Rhithropanopeus harrisii), and some species of fiddler crab (Uca), when chemical or physical cues from the adult habitat were absent (e.g., Wolcott and de Vries, 1994;Forward et al, 1996Forward et al, , 1997aO'Connor and Judge, 1997;Fitzgerald et al, 1998;O'Connor and Gregg, 1998). In marine crabs, the delay of metamorphosis has been studied less intensively, although similar response patterns may be expected there too, at least in species that are strictly specialised in a particular type of habitat.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Costs of delayed metamorphosis: reduced growth and survival in early juveniles of an estuarine grapsid crab, Chasmagnathus granulata

Gebauer

Paschke

Anger

1999

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Costs of delayed metamorphosis: reduced growth and survival in early juveniles of an estuarine grapsid crab, Chasmagnathus granulata

Gebauer

Paschke

Anger

1999

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

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“…This combination of selective metamorphosis and the capacity of competent larvae to delay metamorphosis has been demonstrated for some species in most marine groups, including sponges, anthozoans, scyphozoans, trematode flatworms, turbellarian flatworms, polychaetes, bivalves, gastropods, chitons, crustaceans, echinoids, ascidians, and even coral reef fish (O'Connor 1991, Harms 1992 Fitzgerald et al 1998, Gebauer et al 1998; older literature reviewed by Pechenik 1990).…”

Section: Advantages and Disadvantages Of Dispersalmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the advantages and disadvantages of larval stages in benthic marine invertebrate life cycles

Pechenik¹

1999

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

597

424

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many benthic marine invertebrates develop by means of free-livlng, dispersive larval stages. The presumed advantages of such larvae include the avoidance of competition for resources with adults, temporary reduct~on of benthic mortality while in the plankton, decreased likelihood of inbreeding in the next generation, and increased ability to withstand local extinction However, the direct~on of evolutionary change appears generally b~a s e d toward the loss of larvae in many clades, implying that larvae are somehow disadvantageous. Poss~ble disadvantages include dispersal away from favorable habitat, mismatches between larval and luvenile physiological tolerances, greater susceptib~lity to env~ronmental stresses, greater susceptibihty to predation. and vanous costs that may be associated with n~etanlorphosing in response to specific chemical cues and postponing n~etamorphosis in the absence of those cues. Understanding the forces responsible for the present distribution of larval and non-larval (aplanktonlc) development among benthic marine invertebrates, and the potential influence of human activities on the direct~on of future evolutionary change in 1-eproductlve patterns, will require a better understanding of the following issues. the role of macro-evolutionary forces in selecting for or against dispersive larvae, the relative tolerances of encapsulated embryos and free-living larvae to salinity, pollutant, and other environmental stresses; the degree to which egg masses, e g g capsules, and brood chambers protect developing embryos from environmental stresses; the relative magmtude of predation by planktonic and benthic predators on both larvae and early juveniles; the way In which larval and juvenile size affect vulnerability to predators; the extent to w h~c h encapsulation and brooding protect against predators; the amount of genetic change associated with loss of larvae from invertebrate life cycles and the time required to accomplish that change; and the degree to which continued input of larvae from other populations deters selection against dispersive larvae The prominence of larval development in modern life cycles may reflect difficulties In loslng larvae from llfe cycles more than selection for their retention.

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“…Nevertheless, R. harrisii shows similar responses to cues for metamorphosis (Fitzgerald et al, 1998). The time to metamorphosis is reduced by exposure to estuarine water, adult odor, and high salinity.…”

Section: Metamorphosismentioning

confidence: 84%

Larval Biology of the CrabRhithropanopeus harrisii(Gould): A Synthesis

Forward

2009

The Biological Bulletin

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Abstract. This synthesis reviews the physiological ecology and behavior of larvae of the benthic crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii, which occurs in low-salinity areas of estuaries. Larvae are released rhythmically around the time of high tide in tidal estuaries and in the 2-h interval after sunset in nontidal estuaries. As in most subtidal crustaceans, the timing of larval release is controlled by the developing embryos, which release peptide pheromones that stimulate larval release behavior by the female to synchronize the time of egg hatching. Larvae pass through four zoeal stages and a postlarval or megalopal stage that are planktonic before metamorphosis. They are retained near the adult population by means of an endogenous tidal rhythm in vertical migration. Larvae have several safeguards against predation: they undergo nocturnal diel vertical migration (DVM) and have a shadow response to avoid encountering predators, and they bear long spines as a deterrent. Photoresponses during DVM and the shadow response are enhanced by exposure to chemical cues from the mucus of predator fishes and ctenophores. The primary visual pigment has a spectral sensitivity maximum at about 500 nm, which is typical for zooplankton and matches the ambient spectrum at twilight. Larvae can detect vertical gradients in temperature, salinity, and hydrostatic pressure, which are used for depth regulation and avoidance of adverse environmental conditions. Characteristics that are related to the larval habitat and are common to other crab larval species are considered.

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Metamorphosis of the estuarine crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii:effect of water type and adult odor

Cited by 32 publications

References 20 publications

Costs of delayed metamorphosis: reduced growth and survival in early juveniles of an estuarine grapsid crab, Chasmagnathus granulata

Costs of delayed metamorphosis: reduced growth and survival in early juveniles of an estuarine grapsid crab, Chasmagnathus granulata

On the advantages and disadvantages of larval stages in benthic marine invertebrate life cycles

Larval Biology of the CrabRhithropanopeus harrisii(Gould): A Synthesis

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