Reproductive Traits of the Vent Crab Segonzacia mesatlantica (Guinot, 1989) From the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Abstract

Characteristics of the life-history biology of hydrothermal vent species are a prerequisite to understanding the dispersal, population connectivity, and ecology of these insular populations. The vent crab Segonzacia mesatlantica (Guinot, 1989; Brachyuran: Bythograeidae) is one of the most dominant endemic predators at deep-sea hydrothermal vents along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). However, the biological life-history characteristics remain poorly understood for this species. The objective of this study was to reveal relevant biological characteristics of the reproductive ecology of S. mesatlantica, contributing to a better understanding of its ecology and the importance of the maintenance of healthy populations. The reproductive ecology of S. mesatlantica from the Broken Spur vent field such as the in situ behavior of brooding female crabs, gametogenesis, fecundity, and the embryonic and larvae development was studied. In contrast to non-brooding crabs, brooding crabs of S. mesatlantica were observed at the vent periphery exhibiting a sequence of specific brooding behaviors, suggesting that they might be providing oxygen to their embryo mass. Results from histological analysis reveal the presence of oocytes in different stages of development within the gonad. Once extruded, the mature oocytes form an egg mass underneath the abdomen. Similar to other bythograeid crabs, the egg mass of S. mesatlantica was composed of a high number of relatively small eggs in different stages of embryonic development. The eggs hatch as a first zoea that undergoes at least four stages of development.