Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
Caridean shrimps of the genus Synalpheus are abundant and widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, but knowledge of their reproductive biology remains scarce. We report reproductive traits of Synalpheus apioceros from Bocas del Toro, Panama, based on collections in August 2011. The 46 ovigerous females that were analyzed ranged in size from 3.8 to 7.4 mm in carapace length. Fecundity varied between 8 and 310 embryos and increased with female size. Females invested 18.6 ± 10.3% of their body weight in Embryo production. Embryo volume increased considerably (77.2%) during embryogenesis, likely representing water uptake near the end of incubation period. Compared to Synalpheus species with abbreviated or direct development, Synalpheus apioceros produced substantially smaller embryos; however, Synalpheus apioceros seems to have a prolonged larval phase with at least five zoeal stages, which may explain the combination of relatively small and numerous embryos. We did not find nonviable, minute, chalky embryos, previously reported for Synalpheus apioceros specimens obtained from the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, which supports the hypothesis that the production of this type of embryos may be a physiological response of this warm-water species to the temperature decrease near to its latitudinal range limit.
Highlights
Reproductive traits of crustacean species offer relevant information about their life history strategies (Sastry 1983, Ramirez-Llodra 2002)
The mean Carapace length (CL) of the individuals was 5.4 ± 0.8 mm, ranging from 3.8 to 7.4 mm, and 43.5% of the ovigerous females were in the intermediate size class of 5.0–5.9 mm (Fig. 1)
The size of ovigerous females of Synalpheus apioceros from Bocas del Toro is within the range for congeneric species (Table 3)
Summary
Reproductive traits of crustacean species offer relevant information about their life history strategies (Sastry 1983, Ramirez-Llodra 2002). Embryo size is an indicator of the energy allocation, duration of embryogenesis and type of larval development (Dardeau 1984, Ramirez-Llodra 2002). Caridean shrimps of the genus Synalpheus are distributed worldwide with estimates of about 150 valid species (Dardeau 1984, Ríos and Duffy 2007, Macdonald et al 2009, Hermoso-Salazar and Solis-Weiss 2010, Hultgren et al 2010, 2011, De Grave and Fransen 2011, Anker et al 2012). Whether free-living or (more typically) living as facultative or obligate symbionts, these pistol or snapping shrimps commonly inhabit sponge cavities, coral reefs, rocks, grass beds, or tide pools, and may live associated with hard or soft corals, ascidians, bryozoans, and crinoids (Corey and Reid 1991, Ríos and Duffy 2007, Macdonald et al 2009, Anker et al 2012)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
