Molecular Phylogeny of Grapsoid and Ocypodoid Crabs with Special Reference to the Genera Metaplax and Macrophthalmus

Kitaura, Jun; Wãda, Keiji; Nishida, Mutsumi

doi:10.1163/20021975-99990281

Cited by 45 publications

(48 citation statements)

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“…Intertidal mud crab (Macrophthalmus japonicus) belongs to Phylum Arthropoda; sub phylum Crustacea; order Decapoda, is distributed widely in Indo-Pacific region and dominantly in Japan [25], including Korea. Apart from its commercial importance, this species is an important component of the estuarine and bay ecosystems and can be used as sensitive indicator over a number of environmental changes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of potential markers and sensitive tissues for low or high salinity stress in an intertidal mud crab (Macrophthalmus japonicus)

Nikapitiya

Kim

Park

2014

Fish & Shellfish Immunology

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of potential markers and sensitive tissues for low or high salinity stress in an intertidal mud crab (Macrophthalmus japonicus)

Nikapitiya

Kim

Park

2014

Fish & Shellfish Immunology

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“…Both species are common in the intertidal zone of sheltered mudflats throughout New Zealand and confirmed intermediate hosts of numerous macroparasites (Brockerhoff and Smales 2002;Koehler and Poulin 2010;Latham and Poulin 2002a). Despite being closely related (Kitaura et al 2002), a previous survey of the entire metazoan parasite community infecting these crabs which was done at one site in New Zealand (Lower Portobello Bay) indicates that the two species may differ in their susceptibility to infection with acanthocephalans, microphallid trematodes and nematodes (Koehler and Poulin 2010). The first objective of the present study was to investigate the variation in metazoan parasite prevalence and loads between the two species at two sites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Variation of parasite load and immune parameters in two species of New Zealand shore crabs

Dittmer¹,

Koehler²,

Richard³

et al. 2011

Parasitol Res

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While parasites are likely to encounter several potential intermediate hosts in natural communities, a parasite's actual range of compatible hosts is limited by numerous biological factors ranging from behaviour to immunology. In crustaceans, two major components of immunity are haemocytes and the prophenoloxidase system involved in the melanisation of foreign particles. Here, we analysed metazoan parasite prevalence and loads in the two sympatric crab species Hemigrapsus crenulatus and Macrophthalmus hirtipes at two sites. In parallel, we analysed the variation in haemocyte concentration and amount of circulating phenoloxidase (PO) in the haemolymph of the same individuals in an attempt to (a) explain differences in parasite prevalence and loads in the two species at two sites and (b) assess the impact of parasites on these immune parameters. M. hirtipes harboured more parasites but also exhibited higher haemocyte concentrations than H. crenulatus independent of the study site. Thus, higher investment in haemocyte production for M. hirtipes does not seem to result in higher resistance to parasites. Analyses of variation in immune parameters for the two crab species between the two sites that differed in parasite prevalence showed common trends. (a) In general, haemocyte concentrations were higher at the site experiencing higher parasitic pressure while circulating PO activity was lower and (b) haemocyte concentrations were influenced by microphallid trematode metacercariae in individuals from the site with higher parasitic pressure. We suggest that the higher haemocyte concentrations observed in both crab species exposed to higher parasitic pressure may represent an adaptive response to the impact of parasites on this immune parameter.

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“…They never perform mating displays on the surface, however, unlike ocypodid and grapsid crabs (e.g. Crane, 1975;Kitaura et al, 2002). The lack of a mating display in soldier crabs may be related to the abundance of visual predators, such as birds, because the forward-walking mictyrid crabs do not move as quickly as sideways-walking crabs (Takahasi, 1935;Sleinis & Silvey, 1980; S. Takeda & Murai, 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Zeil, Nalbach & Nalbach, 1986;Zeil & Hofmann, 2001), and have used visual signals, such as waving of the chelipeds, in mating displays (e.g. Crane, 1975;Kitaura, Wada & Nishida, 2002). Similar mating behaviour in different families is thought to reflect a convergent adaptation to the flatness of their habitats (Kitaura et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual differences in behaviour during the breeding season in the soldier crab (Mictyris brevidactylus)

Takeda

2005

Journal of Zoology

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The soldier crab Mictyris brevidactylus breeds in winter. Large females spawned over a few days in early winter after most had decalcified their vulvar opercula. Some females spawned in their first winter, less than 1 year after settlement. The crabs probably copulate during a few days before spawning while the vulvar opercula are decalcified. During the daytime low tide in the breeding season, large males emerged and fed on the sediment surface. Females, on the other hand, made a sand roof above themselves using sand pellets from which they had sorted out food particles, and they fed while hiding under it. After the males had ceased their surface activities, they entered the sand tunnel made by the female. The roof was connected with a hollow shaft, which had been made when the crab had ascended to the surface. Before the habitat was submerged, the shaft was plugged from within with sand to form an air chamber, which suggests that the male and female descend together in the air chamber and copulate there. It is possible that the crab uses the sand roof as a visible signal to attract mates.

show abstract

Molecular Phylogeny of Grapsoid and Ocypodoid Crabs with Special Reference to the Genera Metaplax and Macrophthalmus

Cited by 45 publications

References 0 publications

Identification of potential markers and sensitive tissues for low or high salinity stress in an intertidal mud crab (Macrophthalmus japonicus)

Identification of potential markers and sensitive tissues for low or high salinity stress in an intertidal mud crab (Macrophthalmus japonicus)

Variation of parasite load and immune parameters in two species of New Zealand shore crabs

Sexual differences in behaviour during the breeding season in the soldier crab (Mictyris brevidactylus)

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