Thermal tolerance of the zoea I stage of four Neotropical crab species (Crustacea: Decapoda)

Abstract

. Although larval stages are often considered particularly vulnerable to stressors, for many marine invertebrates studies of thermal tolerance have focused on adults. Here we determined the upper thermal limit (LT50) of the zoea I of four Caribbean crab species (Macrocoelomatrispinosum, Aratuspisonii, Armasesricordi, and Minucarapax) and compared their thermal tolerance over time and among species. The zoea from the subtidal species M.trispinosum and tree climbing mangrove species A.pisonii had a lower thermal tolerance, 35 and 38.5 °C respectively, than did the semiterrestrial A.ricordi and M.rapax. In all four species tested, the estimates of thermal tolerance depend on the duration of exposure to elevated temperatures. Longer exposures to thermal stress produce lower estimates of LT50, which decreased by ~1 °C from a two- to a six-hour exposure. Crab embryos develop on the abdomen of the mother until the larvae are ready to hatch. Therefore, the thermal tolerances of the embryos which need to coincide with the environmental conditions experienced by the adult stage, may carry over into the early zoea stage. Our results suggest that semiterrestrial species, in which embryos may need to withstand higher temperatures than embryos of subtidal species also produce larvae with higher thermal tolerances. Over the short term, the larvae of these tropical crab species can withstand significantly higher temperatures than those experienced in their marine habitat. Longer term rearing studies are necessary to determine the temperature at which chronic exposure has a negative impact on embryonic and larval survival.

Staying in place and moving in space: Contrasting larval thermal sensitivity explains distributional changes of sympatric sea urchin species to habitat warming

“…Comparisons of closely related species that occur proximal to each other but in differing thermal environments (e.g. different tide heights) including barnacles, gastropods and crabs show that thermal tolerance of embryos and larvae reflects the temperature regime of the adult microhabitat and this is likely to influence dispersal (Morley et al, 2017; Rebolledo & Collin, 2018). There do not, however, appear to be any studies of larval offspring thermal tolerance for species that co‐occur in the same habitat and temperature environment, as we do here for two sea urchin species.…”

Thermal Tolerance and Physiological Changes in Mud Crab, Scylla paramamosain Crablet at Different Water Temperatures

“…Generally, our findings showed that long-term exposure at various water temperature treatments can be used to determine the optimal water temperature, similar to how short exposure treatment can be used to determine preferred temperature. Chronic exposure to thermal stress allows determination of its effects on larval growth and survival [ 55 ], and on the levels of tolerance, behavior, and physiological effects [ 56 ]. Study of both chronic and acute thermal tolerance of intertidal biota is still lacking [ 57 ].…”

Thermal tolerance of purple mud crab, Scylla tranquebarica (Fabricius, 1798), during egg incubation, larval rearing and juveniles’ production

“…tranquebarica from tropical region which temperature below than 26℃ was considered low and unsuitable for embryo development. The ability for egg acclimation according to the temperature encountered in their natural habitat (Rebolledo & Collin, 2018).…”

“…tranquebarica (Baylon, 2013). Despite these larvae from a similar genus, the optimal temperature was distinct due to the ability for larval acclimation according to the temperature encountered in the natural habitat (Rebolledo & Collin, 2018). This phenomenon was also proven by Meynecke et al (2010) which reviewed the temperature adaptation of larval mud crab from similar species, found the optimal range for Japanese S .…”