How does emersion time affect embryos of coastal marine invertebrate species? Biochemical responses of three porcelain crabs from the Southeastern Pacific

Abstract

AbstractPorcelain crabs that inhabit contrasting environments along the Southeastern Pacific coast have developed physiological adaptive responses to the harsh environmental conditions. However, it is not yet known if these responses are already present in early life stages, in embryos, for example, which are more vulnerable to environmental fluctuations than adults. In this study, we subjected ovigerous female crabs of three crab species (Allopetrolisthes punctatus, Petrolisthes laevigatus, and Petrolisthes violaceus) to different periods of emersion (0, 1, 3, and 5 hr) to measure the weight and biochemical parameters (i.e., glucose and lactate) in their embryos after a period of stress induction through emersion. The results indicate that after five hours of emersion, P. laevigatus' embryos had the highest dry weight. This same trend was observed in the embryos of P. violaceus. Allopetrolisthes punctatus' embryos had the lowest weight. The embryos' glucose content in P. laevigatus and P. violaceus was consumed during the emersion time, while in embryos of A. punctatus it remained relatively constant. The highest glucose content was reported in P. laevigatus, followed by P. violaceus and A. punctatus. The lactate content showed an opposite trend and was gradually accumulated with increasing emersion time. Petrolisthes laevigatus had the highest lactate content. This study reveals that the early ontogeny of these porcelain crabs is well adapted to long periods of emersion, showing biochemical adaptive responses linked to aerobic metabolism. These adaptations could reflect a distinctive physiological trait, explaining why porcelain crabs are able to survive in contrasting conditions.