Aspects of the reproductive biology of the freshwater/brackish amphipod Quadrivisio lutzi (Crustacea, Amphipoda) from an unstable coastal lagoon of southeastern Brazil

Abstract

Th e amphipod Quadrivisio lutzi (Shoemaker, 1933) (Maeridae) inhabits the coastal lagoons of southeastern Brazil, which are highly unstable environments. Drastic reduction in the abundance and distribution of this amphipod on these lagoons has been observed. Th e constant recovery of its populations suggests that this species may show a reproductive strategy that helps it to persist on these environments. Th erefore, our aim was to study the reproductive biology of this species in Carapebus lagoon and to answer the question if its reproductive strategy contributes to a rapid population recovery. Th e size-range at sexual maturity was determined by the relative growth of the gnathopods and by the number of articles in antennal fl agella. Brood size, egg diameter, size at fi rst maturity and other relative reproductive parameters were obtained, which were compared to other species using a multivariate Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Females reach maturity at smaller size-range (2.9-3.9 mm body length (BL) than males (4.9-5.9 mm BL). Mean egg diameter was small (0.35 ± 0.08 mm) and fecundity was high (20.2 ± 9.2 eggs/female; maximum 48 eggs). Th e relative reproductive parameters observed in Q. lutzi suggest it as iteroparous species. Th e PCA situated Q. lutzi within the species of high reproductive potential, characterized by small female size at fi rst maturity, small egg diameter, large brood size and iteroparity, which have been largely considered adaptations that allow rapid recovery of population sizes. Th erefore, we concluded that the reproductive strategy of this species contributes to its survival in the highly unstable Carapebus lagoon at southeastern Brazil.

Unstable environment of coastal lagoons drives genetic variation in the amphipod Quadrivisio lutzi

“…At Carapebus lagoon, optimal environmental conditions were observed (Salinity of 0.3-0.6 ppt; large rain volumes) from 2011 until middle of 2013 ( Figure 4 ), when large volumes of amphipods were easily obtained. Large reproductive potential ( Medeiros and Weber, 2016 ) may have contributed to population increase at these years. In late 2013 the sandbar was artificially opened twice.…”

“…The amphipod Quadrivisio lutzi (Shoemaker, 1933) inhabits some of the coastal lagoons of the north of the State of Rio de Janeiro, and within the PARNA Jurubatiba. This amphipod species shows persistent populations in Carapebus and Imboassica lagoons, which has been attributed to the high reproductive potential (Medeiros and Weber, 2016). Brazilian records of Q. lutzi include the north of the State of Alagoas (Schellemberg, 1938) and the state of São Paulo (Leite et al, 1980;Wakabara et al, 1991).…”

Lethal concentration of methyl methanesulfonate in a new potential invertebrate model for ecotoxicology

“…The freshwater/brackish amphipod Quadrivisio lutzi (Schoemaker, 1933) is found in coastal lagoons in the northern part of Rio de Janeiro state (Weber et al, 2013). It inhabits the unstable environments of coastal lagoons, where it persists in part due to its high reproductive potential (Medeiros and Weber, 2016) and toleration to a wide range of salinities (freshwater to brackish). This amphipod have been used to study the genotoxic effects of petroleum (Weber et al, 2013), gene expression (unpubl.…”

First report on the life history of the marine amphipod Ceradocus mizani and its implication for aquaculture

“…There is little to no information on the life history patterns of the genus Ceradocus in the literature. However, a few studies have reported the reproductive biology and characteristics of other maerid amphipods such as Elasmopus levis (Borowsky, 1986), Quadrivisio lutzi (Medeiros & Weber, 2016), and Elasmopus pectenicrus (Vargas‐Abúndez et al, 2021). Recent studies have shown the potential for the maerid E. pectenicrus to be a new live feed for ornamental aquaculture and to be an efficient frozen feed for juvenile Lined Seahorse ( Hippocampus erectus ) (Vargas‐Abúndez et al, 2018; Vargas‐Abúndez et al, 2021).…”