Epibionts on Arenaeus cribrarius (Brachyura: Portunidae) from Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Mean prevalence and intensity of infestations by epibionts were evaluated in Arenaeus cribrarius (Lamarck, 1818), based on monthly samplings (May/1991 to April/1993), in Ubatuba, Brazil. Bryozoans were quantified in terms of colony numbers and barnacles by the number of specimens. Prevalence of infestation was determined in 1,914 individuals of A. cribrarius and assessed with respect to sex, maturity stage and season. No significant interaction was detected between epibionts and biological host factors. Males showed a higher infestation rate by Chelonibia patula (Ranzani, 1818) when compared to mature non-ovigerous females, yet Octolasmis lowei Darwin, 1851 infestation was associated to adult crabs. The ovigerous females of A. cribrarius showed a higher prevalence of infestation than males and non-ovigerous females, with lower infestations being recorded during winter. A synchrony between the life cycle of the epibionts and their hosts was evident and promotes the continuity of the former in the area.

Infestation by the epibiont Octolasmis lowei in a portunid crab assemblage from a subtropical coast

“…Overall, infestation by O. lowei seems to be restricted to a fraction of the host populations (i.e. adults in intermolt stage), which is in an agreement with other studies that reported epibiont infestation in decapods (Santos and Bueno, 2002;Costa et al, 2010;Machado et al, 2013).…”

“…The infraclass Cirripedia is a typical group of epibionts which occur in decapods (Abelló and Macpherson, 1992;Jeffries et al, 1992;Key et al, 1997;Costa et al, 2010). These sessile invertebrates are found attached to the carapace (Key et al, 1997;Costa et al, 2010) and branchial chambers of their hosts (Abelló and Macpherson, 1992;Jeffries et al, 1992;Santos and Bueno, 2002).…”

“…These sessile invertebrates are found attached to the carapace (Key et al, 1997;Costa et al, 2010) and branchial chambers of their hosts (Abelló and Macpherson, 1992;Jeffries et al, 1992;Santos and Bueno, 2002). Among cirripedians, the stalked barnacle of the genus Octolasmis Gray, 1825 is an exclusive epibiont, often found adhered to the gills of decapods such as lobsters ( Jeffries et al, 1984;1991) and crabs (Dinamani, 1964;Jeffries et al, 1982;Voris et al, 1994;Cordeiro and Costa, 2010).…”

“…Although infestation by the genus Octolasmis in decapods is well documented ( Jeffries and Voris, 1983;Young, 1990;Shields, 1992;Walker, 2001;Santos and Bueno, 2002;Yan et al, 2004;Cordeiro and Costa, 2010;Costa et al, 2010;Farrapeira, 2010;Machado et al, 2013), few studies have attempted to simultaneously investigate the association of these epibionts in a variety of sympatric host species (Humes, 1941;Jeffries et al, 1982;Kumaravel et al, 2009;Machado et al, 2013). Such approach is important for understanding host usage range in epibionts, as well as to evaluate the effect of biological traits (e.g.…”

“…maturity, size and sex) on infestation, which could improve our knowledge of the factors influencing epibiont-host interaction. In Brazil, the occurrence of Octolasmis lowei Darwin, 1851 has been reported in the branchial chambers of crabs from the families Aethridae, Epialtidae, Leucosiidae and Portunidae (Young, 1990;Santos and Bueno, 2002;Cordeiro and Costa, 2010;Costa et al, 2010;Machado et al, 2013). However, these findings are reported in different areas and for few host species per study.…”