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Ecology and Diversity of Marine Decapods

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A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Diversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2022) | Viewed by 42141

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Patricia Briones-Fourzán

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Guest Editor

Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, México
Interests: ecology of crustaceans, especially of Caribbean ecosystems; decapods; benthic ecology; community composition; behavioral ecology; feeding ecology; reproductive ecology, population dynamics

Dr. Michel E. Hendrickx

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Guest Editor

Unidad Académica Mazatlán, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mazatlán, México
Interests: ecology, taxonomy and zoogeography of marine invertebrates, particularly crustaceans and molluscs; bathymetric distribution, zoogeography and trophic aspects of pelagic and benthic stomatopods and decapods of the Pacific

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Decapods (shrimps, crayfish, lobsters, hermit crabs, and crabs) are one of the most diverse crustacean orders with around 12,000 described species, most of which are marine. Many decapods sustain important fisheries, but their diversity and the ecological roles they play are far from being well understood. Although some marine decapods are pelagic, most species occur in shallow and deep benthic ecosystems, including coral reefs, seagrass meadows, macroalgal beds, kelp forests, rocky coasts, and hydrothermal vents, where they have important regulatory functions. Decapods encompass herbivores, detritivores, carnivores, and omnivores, and are in turn consumed by many higher-order consumers, thus constituting a critical link in many food webs. Decapods have complex behaviours and are involved in symbiotic relationships with members of many other phyla. In many marine decapods, population connectivity depends on pelagic larvae that develop as part of the meroplankton for weeks or even months, thus also playing a significant role in planktonic ecology. Throughout the world, decapod populations are threatened by climate change, habitat degradation and loss, invasive species, changes in abundance of their predators, overfishing, and diseases.

For this Special Issue, we invite submissions that address all aspects of research on marine decapod diversity and ecology, such as species diversity, community composition, distribution and ecological functions, population dynamics and connectivity, feeding ecology and trophic interactions, larval ecology, behavioural ecology, disease ecology, and symbiotic relationships with other species. We welcome studies in pelagic and/or benthic decapods from any type of marine environments, and from the local to the global scale.

Dr. Patricia Briones-Fourzán
Dr. Michel E. Hendrickx
Guest Editors

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Keywords

Marine decapods
Species diversity
Community composition and ecology
Behavioral ecology
Biodiversity and conservation
Connectivity
Decapod symbioses
Decapod larval ecology
Disease ecology
Feeding ecology and trophic interactions

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Editorial

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4 pages, 236 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Ecology and Diversity of Marine Decapod Crustaceans

by Patricia Briones-Fourzán and Michel E. Hendrickx

Diversity 2022, 14(8), 614; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d14080614 - 29 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2398

Abstract

Decapods are one of the most diverse crustacean orders, with around 17,500 extant species [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Diversity of Marine Decapods)

Research

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9 pages, 1204 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Distribution of Cyclograpsus cinereus Dana 1851 on the Rocky Shores of Antofagasta (23°27′ S, Chile)

by Patricio De los Rios-Escalante, Carlos Esse, Marco Antonio Retamal, Oscar Zúñiga, Maritza Fajardo and Farhana Ghory

Diversity 2022, 14(6), 418; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d14060418 - 24 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1499

Abstract

The decapod fauna in the intertidal zone of the rocky shores of Chile is highly diverse, especially along the northern and central mainland coasts, where the influence of the cold Humboldt Current results in high productivity. One of the most abundant species in these ecosystems is the decapod Cyclograpsus cinereus Dana, 1851. The aim of the present study, carried out in the spring and summer seasons between 2018 and 2020, was to determine the spatial distribution patterns of the decapod C. cinereus in different sites along the rocky shores of Antofagasta bay, northern Chile, in order to establish probabilistic models that explain its distribution at each site. Individuals were counted in random quadrants in the intertidal zone. The data thus obtained were processed by application of the variance/mean ratio to determine whether the distribution of individuals was random, aggregated or uniform, associated with Poisson, negative binomial or positive binomial distributions, respectively. The data revealed aggregated (negative binomial) distribution in 15 sampling events, and uniform (positive binomial) distribution in 4 events. The sampling sites were located on rocky shores in four sectors of an urban zone, and two in a protected zone; no significant differences were found between the densities of the sites in the two zones. The results of the interpretative probabilistic models indicated aggregated distribution patterns, agreeing with previously reported interpretative probabilistic models for the distribution of decapods on the rocky shores of central and southern Chile. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Diversity of Marine Decapods)

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27 pages, 3765 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diversity and Molecular Phylogeny of Pagurid Hermit Crabs (Anomura: Paguridae: Pagurus)

by Zakea Sultana, Isaac Adeyemi Babarinde and Akira Asakura

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 141; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d14020141 - 16 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3175

Abstract

Species of the genus Pagurus have diversified into a wide variety of marine habitats across the world. Despite their worldwide abundance, the genus diversity and biogeographical relationship are relatively less understood at species-level. We evaluated the phylogenetic relationship and genetic diversity among the Pagurus species based on publicly available mitochondrial and nuclear markers. While independent analyses of different markers allowed for larger coverage of taxa and produced largely consistent results, the concatenation of 16S and COI partial sequences led to higher confidence in the phylogenetic relationships. Our analyses established several monophyletic species clusters, substantially corresponding to the previously established morphology-based species groups. The comprehensive species inclusion in the molecular phylogeny resolved the taxonomic position of a number of recently described species that had not been assigned to any morpho-group. In mitochondrial markers-based phylogenies, the “Provenzanoi” group was identified as the basal lineage of Pagurus. The divergence time estimation of the major groups of Pagurus revealed that the Pacific species originated and diversified from the Atlantic lineages around 25–51 MYA. The molecular results suggested a higher inter-regional species diversity and complex phylogenetic relationships within the diverse and heterogeneous members of the genus Pagurus. The study presents a comprehensive snapshot of the diversity of pagurid hermit crabs across multiple geographic regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Diversity of Marine Decapods)

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24 pages, 7526 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diversity and Distribution of Mid- to Late-Stage Phyllosomata of Spiny and Slipper Lobsters (Decapoda: Achelata) in the Mexican Caribbean

by Rubén Muñoz de Cote-Hernández, Patricia Briones-Fourzán, Cecilia Barradas-Ortiz, Fernando Negrete-Soto and Enrique Lozano-Álvarez

Diversity 2021, 13(10), 485; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d13100485 - 05 Oct 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1705

Abstract

Achelata (Palinuridae and Scyllaridae) have a flat, transparent, long-lived planktonic larva called phyllosoma, which comprises multiple stages and has a duration from a few weeks (some scyllarids) to >20 months (some palinurids). The larval development of many Achelata occurs in oceanic waters, where conventional plankton nets usually collect the early- to mid-stages but not the later stages, which remain poorly known. We examined the diversity and distribution of mid- and late-stage phyllosomata in the oceanic waters of the Mexican Caribbean, where the swift Yucatan Current is the dominant feature. The plankton samples were collected at night with a large mid-water trawl in autumn 2012 (55 stations) and spring 2013 (34 stations). In total, we obtained 2599 mid- and late-stage phyllosomata (1742 in autumn, 857 in spring) of five palinurids (Panulirus argus, Panulirus guttatus, Panulirus laevicauda, Palinurellus gundlachi, Justitia longimana) and three scyllarids (Parribacus antarcticus, Scyllarides aequinoctialis, Scyllarus chacei). Overall, the mid-stages were ~2.5 times as abundant as the late stages. The palinurids far outnumbered the scyllarids, and P. argus dominated over all the other species, followed at a distance by P. guttatus. The densities of all the species were generally low, with no clear spatial pattern, and the phyllosomata assemblage composition greatly overlapped between seasons. These results suggest the extensive mixing of the organisms entrained in the strong Yucatan Current, which clearly favors the advection of the phyllosomata in this region despite the presence of some local sub-mesoscale features that may favor short-term retention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Diversity of Marine Decapods)

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52 pages, 22843 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Mysterious World Revealed: Larval-Adult Matching of Deep-Sea Shrimps from the Gulf of Mexico

by Carlos Varela and Heather Bracken-Grissom

Diversity 2021, 13(10), 457; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d13100457 - 23 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5361

Abstract

The identification of deep-sea (>200 m) pelagic larvae is extremely challenging due to the morphological diversity across ontogeny and duration of larval phases. Within Decapoda, developmental stages often differ conspicuously from their adult form, representing a bizarre and mysterious world still left to be discovered. The difficulties with sampling and rearing deep-sea larvae, combined with the lack of taxonomic expertise, argues for the use of molecular methods to aid in identification. Here, we use DNA barcoding combined with morphological methods, to match larval stages with their adult counterpart from the northern Gulf of Mexico and adjacent waters. For DNA barcoding, we targeted the mitochondrial ribosomal large subunit 16S (16S) and the protein coding cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI). These data were combined with previous sequences to generate phylogenetic trees that were used to identify 12 unknown larval and two juvenile species from the infraorder Caridea and the suborder Dendrobranchiata. Once identified, we provide taxonomic descriptions and illustrations alongside the current state of knowledge for all families. For many groups, larval descriptions are missing or non-existent, so this study represents a first step of many to advance deep-sea larval diversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Diversity of Marine Decapods)

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11 pages, 1579 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Long-Term Symbiotic Relationship: Recruitment and Fidelity of the Crab Trapezia on Its Coral Host Pocillopora

by H. M. Canizales-Flores, A. P. Rodríguez-Troncoso, F. A. Rodríguez-Zaragoza and A. L. Cupul-Magaña

Diversity 2021, 13(9), 450; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d13090450 - 19 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2549

Abstract

The symbiotic relationship between the crab Trapezia spp. and pocilloporid corals has been characterized as obligate. Although this relationship is considered common and has been widely registered within the distribution areas of these corals, the initiation of this symbiotic relation and its potential persistence throughout the life cycle of the crustacean is still poorly described. To understand the Trapezia–Pocillopora symbiosis, determining the time and conditions when Trapezia recruits a coral colony and the factors influencing this process are key. Thus, in the present study, healthy, small and unrecruited coral fragments were attached to the substrates (using cable ties) of nearby adult Pocillopora colonies. All fragments were monitored for two years to measure their growth and size at the first evidence of Trapezia crab recruitment, as well as the abundance and permanence of the crabs on the coral fragments. Results showed a relation between the space available (coral volume) and crab recruitment as an increase in substrate complexity is required to provide protection for the crabs and hence maintain the symbiosis, while abiotic conditions such as sea temperature and the distance of the fragments from the adult coral colonies seemingly did not affect the recruitment process. In addition, crabs are able to move between colonies, thus discarding the theory that once recruited, crabs are obligate residents on this specific colony. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Diversity of Marine Decapods)

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59 pages, 8266 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrative Taxonomy of New Zealand Stenopodidea (Crustacea: Decapoda) with New Species and Records for the Region

by Kareen E. Schnabel, Qi Kou and Peng Xu

Diversity 2021, 13(8), 343; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d13080343 - 27 Jul 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2865

Abstract

The New Zealand fauna of the crustacean infraorder Stenopodidea, the coral and sponge shrimps, is reviewed using both classical taxonomic and molecular tools. In addition to the three species so far recorded in the region, we report Spongicola goyi for the first time, and formally describe three new species of Spongicolidae. Following the morphological review and DNA sequencing of type specimens, we propose the synonymy of Spongiocaris yaldwyni with S. neocaledonensis and review a proposed broad Indo-West Pacific distribution range of Spongicoloides novaezelandiae. New records for the latter at nearly 54° South on the Macquarie Ridge provide the southernmost record for stenopodidean shrimp known to date. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Diversity of Marine Decapods)

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16 pages, 2504 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Use of Chemical Cues by Sargassum Shrimps Latreutes fucorum and Leander tenuicornis in Establishing and Maintaining a Symbiosis with the Host Sargassum Algae

by Jaime L. Frahm and William Randy Brooks

Diversity 2021, 13(7), 305; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d13070305 - 06 Jul 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2325

Abstract

A mutualistic symbiosis exists between the alga Sargassum spp. and two shrimp species, Latreutes fucorum and Leander tenuicornis. However, little is known about how these shrimp locate and establish their host alga. Both visual and chemical cues are potentially available. A previous study has looked at both cue variables with results that are mixed. Specifically, these same shrimp species used chemical cues only when visible cues were available simultaneously. Visual cues would be presumably restricted at night, but chemical cues are potentially available continuously. This current research elaborates on the previous study to fully understand Sargassum shrimp chemoreception. Increases in sample sizes and both a 4-chambered and Y-maze apparatus were used to test whether the shrimp could detect Sargassum cues, dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) (a chemical excreted by some marine algae), and conspecific cues. Neither shrimp species showed a strong directional response to any of the chemical cues, but the Sargassum and DMSP cues did cause more shrimp to exhibit searching behavior. Additionally, several differences in responses between male and female shrimp were found for each cue. A lowered dilution of DMSP was also tested to determine sensitivity of L. fucorum shrimp to the chemical cue; although searching behavior was triggered, conclusions about quantifying the sensitivity could not be made. Overall, these results show the shrimp can detect chemical cues—in the absence of visual cues—that could affect initiating and maintaining this shrimp/algal symbiosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Diversity of Marine Decapods)

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17 pages, 8543 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Population Structure and Seasonal Variability of two Luciferid Species (Decapoda: Sergestoidea) in the Western Gulf of Mexico

by Laura Sanvicente-Añorve, Juan Hernández-González, Elia Lemus-Santana, Margarita Hermoso-Salazar and Marco Violante-Huerta

Diversity 2021, 13(7), 301; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d13070301 - 02 Jul 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2921

Abstract

The population ecology of luciferids has been scarcely studied. This study examined the distribution and population parameters of Belzebub faxoni and Lucifer typus in the western Gulf of Mexico. Samples were collected using a Bongo net at 82 sampling stations during three periods (July, January, and October–November). Abundance data of species were subjected to a regression tree analysis to determine the main factors affecting their distribution. In addition, total length data of individuals were fitted to a logistic equation to estimate the size at first maturity. Food availability was the key factor affecting the distribution of B. faxoni, which exhibited its highest abundance over the inner shelf. In contrast, L. typus avoided low salinity waters (<35.9 psu), and its highest densities were found over the slope and oceanic areas. The sex ratio in B. faxoni was always biased towards females, but L. typus showed variable sex proportions. Several hypotheses attempting to explain these disparities are discussed. Size structure in B. faxoni favored small individuals in summer, the reproduction peak. In contrast, the L. typus population was always dominated by large individuals, probably transported by currents from the main hatching sites. Size at first maturity was higher in L. typus (females: 8.16 mm; males: 8.63 mm) than in B. faxoni (females: 6.53 mm; males: 6.74 mm). Information here provided may help to better understand the population dynamics of these species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Diversity of Marine Decapods)

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28 pages, 5997 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unexpected Absence of Population Structure and High Genetic Diversity of the Western Atlantic Hermit Crab Clibanarius antillensis Stimpson, 1859 (Decapoda: Diogenidae) Based on Mitochondrial Markers and Morphological Data

by Keity S. Nishikawa, Mariana Negri and Fernando L. Mantelatto

Diversity 2021, 13(2), 56; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d13020056 - 01 Feb 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2804

Abstract

Recent studies on genetic variability have revealed different patterns of genetic structure among populations of marine decapod species with wide geographical distribution. The hermit crab Clibanarius antillensis has a broad distribution along the western Atlantic Ocean, from south Florida (United States) to Santa Catarina (Brazil). This factor, in addition to differences in larval morphology and in adult coloration, makes this species a good model for studies on intraspecific variations. Therefore, we evaluated the molecular and morphological variability of C. antillensis along its distribution in order to check the levels of population structure. The results were based on the morphological analyses of 187 individuals and 38 partial sequences of the mitochondrial gene 16S rRNA and 46 of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) from specimens whose locations covered the whole species distribution. The molecular analyses did not show any apparent population structure of C. antillensis. This result was corroborated by the morphological analyses since the characters analyzed did not show any pattern of variation. Our results may be explained by a set of factors, such as the dispersive potential of the species and the absence of barriers that could prevent gene flow. In addition, high genetic diversity was observed, mainly for COI, which may be explained by the historical processes of the species, which seem to be in almost constant expansion in the last 700,000 years and experienced no genetic bottleneck. Apparently, this species was little affected by the climate fluctuations of Pleistocene. Additionally, our morphological analyses allowed us to present herein a redescription of the studied species since we noted differences from the characters in the diagnosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Diversity of Marine Decapods)

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Review

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22 pages, 10331 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Distribution and Ecology of Decapod Crustaceans in Mediterranean Marine Caves: A Review

by Carlo Nike Bianchi, Vasilis Gerovasileiou, Carla Morri and Carlo Froglia

Diversity 2022, 14(3), 176; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d14030176 - 27 Feb 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4355

Abstract

Decapod crustaceans are important components of the fauna of marine caves worldwide, yet information on their ecology is still scarce. Mediterranean marine caves are perhaps the best known of the world and may offer paradigms to the students of marine cave decapods from other geographic regions. This review summarizes and updates the existing knowledge about the decapod fauna of Mediterranean marine caves on the basis of a dataset of 76 species from 133 caves in 13 Mediterranean countries. Most species were found occasionally, while 15 species were comparatively frequent (found in at least seven caves). They comprise cryptobiotic and bathyphilic species that only secondarily colonize caves (secondary stygobiosis). Little is known about the population biology of cave decapods, and quantitative data are virtually lacking. The knowledge on Mediterranean marine cave decapods is far from being complete. Future research should focus on filling regional gaps and on the decapod ecological role: getting out at night to feed and resting in caves during daytime, decapods may import organic matter to the cave ecosystem. Some decapod species occurring in caves are protected by law. Ecological interest and the need for conservation initiatives combine to claim for intensifying research on the decapod fauna of the Mediterranean Sea caves. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Diversity of Marine Decapods)

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25 pages, 77449 KiB

Open AccessReview

Lobster Distribution and Biodiversity on the Continental Shelf of Brazil: A Review

by Raul Cruz, Marina T. Torres, João V. M. Santana and Israel H. A. Cintra

Diversity 2021, 13(11), 507; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d13110507 - 20 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2974

Abstract

The continental shelf of Brazil is home to a wide range of lobster species, with varying body size, color, habitat preference, and geographic and bathymetric distribution. Spiny lobsters (Panulirus) and slipper lobsters (Scyllaridae) are exploited for export and for the domestic market. Deep sea lobsters (Nephropidae and Polychelidae) have no commercial potential, and little is known about their biology. In this review, we identified 24 lobster species from benthic ecosystems off Brazil (Palinuridae 25%, Scyllaridae 29%, Nephropidae 25%, Polychelidae 17%, Enoplometopidae 4%). We designed a simplified theoretical scheme to understand the role of lobsters in the ecosystem, based on available evidence of distribution, biodiversity, life cycle, connectivity, and abundance. Finally, we propose a theoretical scheme of trophic top-down control, with interactions between a large decapod (spiny lobster), a demersal predator (red snapper), an apex predator (small tuna), benthic invertebrates and fishing exploitation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Diversity of Marine Decapods)

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Other

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4 pages, 1078 KiB

Open AccessInteresting Images

Nocturnal Predation of Christmas Tree Worms by a Batwing Coral Crab at Bonaire (Southern Caribbean)

by Ellen Muller, Werner de Gier, Harry A. ten Hove, Godfried W. N. M. van Moorsel and Bert W. Hoeksema

Diversity 2020, 12(12), 455; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d12120455 - 30 Nov 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4703

Abstract

Christmas tree worms (Serpulidae: Spirobranchus) occur in shallow parts of coral reefs, where they live as associates of a large number of stony coral species [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Diversity of Marine Decapods)

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