Adaptations to semi-terrestrial life in embryos of East African mangrove crabs: a comparative approach

Simoni, Riccardo; Giomi, Folco; Spigoli, Daniele; Pörtner, Hans‐Otto; Cannicci, Stefano

doi:10.1007/s00227-013-2243-3

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…In this ecosystem, crustacean decapods, mainly brachyuran crabs, are the most diverse and ecologically relevant taxa [ 21 , 22 ]. In true mangrove crab families, females brood their embryos on their abdominal appendages for about 2 weeks [ 23 , 24 ] before hatching the larvae out into the water column. This is followed by a planktotrophic larval phase and a final settlement stage called megalopa, where they ultimately settle in habitats typical of adult populations [ 25 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demographic History and Reproductive Output Correlates with Intraspecific Genetic Variation in Seven Species of Indo-Pacific Mangrove Crabs

2016

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The spatial distribution and the amount of intraspecific genetic variation of marine organisms are strongly influenced by many biotic and abiotic factors. Comparing biological and genetic data characterizing species living in the same habitat can help to elucidate the processes driving these variation patterns. Here, we present a comparative multispecies population genetic study on seven mangrove crabs co-occurring in the West Indian Ocean characterized by planktotrophic larvae with similar pelagic larval duration. Our main aim was to investigate whether a suite of biological, behavioural and ecological traits could affect genetic diversities of the study species in combination with historical demographic parameters. As possible current explanatory factors, we used the intertidal micro-habitat colonised by adult populations, various parameters of individual and population fecundity, and the timing of larval release. As the genetic marker, we used partial sequences of cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene. Genetic and ecological data were collected by the authors and/or gathered from primary literature. Permutational multiple regression models and ANOVA tests showed that species density and their reproductive output in combination with historical demographic parameters could explain the intraspecific genetic variation indexes across the seven species. In particular, species producing consistently less eggs per spawning event showed higher values of haplotype diversity. Moreover, Tajima’s D parameters well explained the recorded values for haplotype diversity and average γst. We concluded that current intraspecific gene diversities in crabs inhabiting mangrove forests were affected by population fecundity as well as past demographic history. The results were also discussed in terms of management and conservation of fauna in the Western Indian Ocean mangroves.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demographic History and Reproductive Output Correlates with Intraspecific Genetic Variation in Seven Species of Indo-Pacific Mangrove Crabs

2016

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“…The oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was measured for groups of 10 embryos from each treatment and developmental stage. To measure the OCR, we used the electrode microrespiration System, MRS-8 (Unisense, Aarhus, Denmark), provided with eight microrespiration glass chambers containing ∼0.5 ml ( Bartolini et al ., 2013 ; Simoni et al ., 2013 ). To ensure the constant homogeneity of the water samples, each chamber was stirred with a glass-embedded micromagnet (separated from the eggs through a fine mesh of stainless steel) and an individual stirring device.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of ocean acidification on embryonic respiration and development of a temperate wrasse living along a natural CO₂gradient

2016

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“…The differences between aquatic and terrestrial habitats are enormous and nearly every aspect of a crab life needs to cope with such a transition ( Little, 2009 ). During this process, remarkable morphological and physiological changes were required to tackle challenges relevant to locomotion ( Burggren and McMahon, 1988 ), gaseous exchange ( Farrelly and Greenaway, 1993 , 1994 ; Paoli et al, 2015 ), excretion ( Wood and Boutilier, 1985 ; Greenaway, 1988 ), reproduction ( Cannicci et al, 2011 ; Simoni et al, 2013 ), foraging ( Lindquist et al, 2009 ), and salt availability ( Anger, 1995 ; Faria et al, 2017 ), given the huge difference in physical properties of air and water ( Little, 1990 ; Figure 2 ).…”

Section: To the Land And Beyond: A True Crab Endeavormentioning

confidence: 99%

To the Land and Beyond: Crab Microbiomes as a Paradigm for the Evolution of Terrestrialization

et al. 2020

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The transition to terrestrial environments by formerly aquatic species has occurred repeatedly in many animal phyla and lead to the vast diversity of extant terrestrial species. The differences between aquatic and terrestrial habitats are enormous and involved remarkable morphological and physiological changes. Convergent evolution of various traits is evident among phylogenetically distant taxa, but almost no information is available about the role of symbiotic microbiota in such transition. Here, we suggest that intertidal and terrestrial brachyuran crabs are a perfect model to study the evolutionary pathways and the ecological role of animal-microbiome symbioses, since their transition to land is happening right now, through a number of independent lineages. The microorganisms colonizing the gut of intertidal and terrestrial crabs are expected to play a major role to conquer the land, by reducing water losses and permitting the utilization of novel food sources. Indeed, it has been shown that the microbiomes hosted in the digestive system of terrestrial isopods has been critical to digest plant items, but nothing is known about the microbiomes present in the gut of truly terrestrial crabs. Other important physiological regulations that could be facilitated by microbiomes are nitrogen excretion and osmoregulation in the new environment. We also advocate for advances in comparative and functional genomics to uncover physiological aspects of these ongoing evolutionary processes. We think that the multidisciplinary study of microorganisms associated with terrestrial crabs will shed a completely new light on the biological and physiological processes involved in the sea-land transition.

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Adaptations to semi-terrestrial life in embryos of East African mangrove crabs: a comparative approach

Cited by 10 publications

References 40 publications

Demographic History and Reproductive Output Correlates with Intraspecific Genetic Variation in Seven Species of Indo-Pacific Mangrove Crabs

Demographic History and Reproductive Output Correlates with Intraspecific Genetic Variation in Seven Species of Indo-Pacific Mangrove Crabs

Effects of ocean acidification on embryonic respiration and development of a temperate wrasse living along a natural CO₂gradient

To the Land and Beyond: Crab Microbiomes as a Paradigm for the Evolution of Terrestrialization

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Adaptations to semi-terrestrial life in embryos of East African mangrove crabs: a comparative approach

Cited by 10 publications

References 40 publications

Demographic History and Reproductive Output Correlates with Intraspecific Genetic Variation in Seven Species of Indo-Pacific Mangrove Crabs

Demographic History and Reproductive Output Correlates with Intraspecific Genetic Variation in Seven Species of Indo-Pacific Mangrove Crabs

Effects of ocean acidification on embryonic respiration and development of a temperate wrasse living along a natural CO2gradient

To the Land and Beyond: Crab Microbiomes as a Paradigm for the Evolution of Terrestrialization

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Effects of ocean acidification on embryonic respiration and development of a temperate wrasse living along a natural CO₂gradient