Bonsai anemones: Growth suppression of sea anemones by their associated kleptoparasitic boxer crab

Schnytzer, Yisrael; Giman, Yaniv; Karplus, Ilan; Achituv, Y.

doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2013.07.011

Cited by 6 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Due to this "inverted" situation, the crab which is the larger of the two associates effectively controls the movement of its "host" sea anemone. Previous studies have often suggested that the crab-held sea anemones gain in addition to mobility, transport to further food sources and oxygen (Duerden, 1905;Karplus et al, 1998;Schnytzer et al 2013). However, in a previous study, we showed that the crabs regulate the food intake of their sea anemones, and consequently control their growth, maintaining small, "bonsai" sea anemones for their use (Schnytzer et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 53%

“…The partnership between L. leptochelis and Alicia sp. appears to be obligate, at least on part of the crab, as we have never observed a crab in nature without sea anemones (n > 100), including juvenile crabs not long after settling from their planktonic larval stage (Schnytzer et al 2013). In contrast to L. leptochelis, the sea anemone that is mostly associated with Lybia crabs is Triactis producta (Duerden 1905;Cutress 1977;Karplus et al 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Boxer crabs of the genus Lybia have the remarkable habit of carrying a sea anemone in each of its claws by means of delicate hooks, slightly embedded in the sea anemone column (Duerden 1905;Guinot 1976;Schnytzer et al 2013). Lybia gain both nutritional and protective benefits from their sea anemones (Duerden 1905;Karplus et al 1998;Schnytzer et al 2013). Although crab-cnidarian associations are generally characterized by a small crab and a larger cnidarian associate who is regarded as the clear host (Thiel and Baeza 2001), in this case, the crab is the larger of the two associates, making the host-symbiont identification harder to define.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Peer Review #1 of "Boxer crabs induce asexual reproduction of their associated sea anemones by splitting and intraspecific theft (v0.1)"

2017

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Crabs of the genus Lybia have the remarkable habit of holding a sea anemone in each of their claws. This partnership appears to be obligate, at least on the part of the crab. The present study focuses on Lybia leptochelis from the Red Sea holding anemones of the genus Alicia (family Aliciidae). These anemones have not been found free living, only in association with L. leptochelis. In an attempt to understand how the crabs acquire them we conducted a series of behavioral experiments and molecular analyses. Laboratory observations showed that the removal of one anemone from a crab induces a "splitting" behavior, whereby the crab tears the remaining anemone into two similar parts, resulting in a complete anemone in each claw after regeneration. Furthermore, when two crabs, one holding anemones and one lacking them, are confronted, the crabs fight, almost always leading to the "theft" of a complete anemone or anemone fragment by the crab without them. Following this, crabs "split" their lone anemone into two. Individuals of Alicia sp. removed from freshly collected L. leptochelis were used for DNA analysis. By employing AFLP (Fluorescence Amplified Fragments Length Polymorphism) it was shown that each pair of anemones from a given crab is genetically identical. Furthermore, there is genetic identity between most pairs of anemone held by different crabs, with the others showing slight genetic differences. This is a unique case in which one animal induces asexual reproduction of another, consequently also affecting its genetic diversity.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 53%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Peer Review #1 of "Boxer crabs induce asexual reproduction of their associated sea anemones by splitting and intraspecific theft (v0.1)"

2017

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“…In homolid crabs, as in Lamoha inflata (Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1981), sea anemones are often carried as defence using specialised hind appendages (e.g., Chintiroglou et al, 1996). Perhaps the most remarkable example of mutualism is among species of the crab genus Lybia H. Milne Edwards, 1834, also known as 'boxer crabs', which carry a sea anemone on each cheliped (Guinot et al, 1995;Karplus et al, 1998;Schnytzer et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of niche conservatism and host fidelity in the polar shrimp Lebbeus kiae n. sp. (Decapoda: Caridea: Thoridae) from the Ross Sea, Antarctica

2015

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We report a remarkable case of ‘bipolarism’, where two different polar species, namely Lebbeus polaris in the northern hemisphere and Lebbeus kiae n. sp., here described from the Southern Ocean, have been found to share similar ecologies. Despite the great geographical distance between the two species, both show high host fidelity in associations\ud with two congeneric sea anemones: Bolocera tuediae and Bolocera kerguelensis, respectively. A close molecular phylogenetic relationship between the two Lebbeus species is indicated by COI data, which clearly show them as sister clades with respect to other congeners as well as a plurality of other Antarctic species. This is the first reported case of a defensive association in the Southern Ocean involving shrimps and sea anemones. The distribution of the new species,\ud limited to seamount systems off the Ross Sea, may be the result of a specific colonisation/speciation event in the past, although more molecular data are needed to unravel the phylogenetic relationships within the genus Lebbeus. Despite this uncertainty, the persistence of ecological traits, i.e., the defensive association with sea anemones, indicates the presence of niche conservatism in this clade of shrimps

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Biology and epibiont community of the red decorator crab, Schizophrys aspera, on the southern Great Barrier Reef

Goodhill,

Desbiens,

Wolfe

2024

Coral Reefs

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Organismal symbioses are fundamental to biodiversity, evolution, and ecosystem functioning. On coral reefs, many decapod species have formed distinct epibiotic symbioses through decoration tendencies that enhance diet, camouflage, and defence. The red decorator crab, Schizophrys aspera (Majidae: Decapoda), has a broad Indo-Pacific distribution and is a successful predator of juvenile crown-of-thorns seastars (CoTS; Acanthaster sp.). However, little is known of the biology and decorating symbioses of S. aspera on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), where CoTS pose ongoing management challenges. We characterised S. aspera and its epibiont community collected in coral rubble patches on the southern GBR. S. aspera predominantly used sponges (94 ± 1%; mean ± SE) in its decoration, with greater proportions of the carapace covered for juveniles (58 ± 5%) and females (46 ± 4%) compared to males (24 ± 4%). In short-term (8-d) experiments, S. aspera substantially reduced sponge (31%) and algal (47%) cover on rubble pieces, demonstrating its potential to alter sessile communities. The close association of S. aspera with sponges and algae likely reflects its diet and enhances camouflage and chemical defence in its coral rubble niche on the GBR. As sessile taxa are often noxious, we postulate that these symbioses may confer resilience of S. aspera to plancitoxins in its consumption of CoTS. Evaluating how epibiont diversity and biochemistry shape the habitat associations, distribution, and role of S. aspera as predator and prey may be important to understanding its ability to mediate CoTS densities on the GBR and elsewhere.

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Bonsai anemones: Growth suppression of sea anemones by their associated kleptoparasitic boxer crab

Cited by 6 publications

References 25 publications

Peer Review #1 of "Boxer crabs induce asexual reproduction of their associated sea anemones by splitting and intraspecific theft (v0.1)"

Peer Review #1 of "Boxer crabs induce asexual reproduction of their associated sea anemones by splitting and intraspecific theft (v0.1)"

Evidence of niche conservatism and host fidelity in the polar shrimp Lebbeus kiae n. sp. (Decapoda: Caridea: Thoridae) from the Ross Sea, Antarctica

Biology and epibiont community of the red decorator crab, Schizophrys aspera, on the southern Great Barrier Reef

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