Burrow morphology and mating behaviour of the thalassinidean shrimp Upogebia noronhensis

Abstract

Burrow morphology and mating behaviour of Upogebia noronhensis was studied using resin casting of burrows in the ¢eld and observation of laboratory maintained animals. Burrows of U. noronhensis showed a typical Y-shaped pattern in over 70% of the cases analysed. The remaining 30% comprised U-shaped burrows lacking the lower tunnel (shaft) and burrows with long additional branches projecting from the U portion. Results from animals left to construct burrows in the aquarium closely matched those found in nature. Field and laboratory burrows showed that di¡erent shapes are related to the collapse of the burrow walls, the burrowing activities of other individuals and species, and to the behaviour of the species itself. U-shaped burrows form as a result of the partial construction of the burrow (the U part is always built ¢rst) or owing to the collapse of the shaft. Burrows with additional branches always belonged to males and result from their search for a female with which to reproduce. This process also produced connected burrows. Mating occurs within the female burrow and this is the only time when two animals occupy the same burrow. After mating, the male returns to its burrow and immediately closes the connection. Larvae are planktonic and probably settle in adult areas, since the smallest juvenile burrows were always associated with adult burrows. This may contribute to the high population densities found in the ¢eld ($200 ind m 72 ), which in consequence facilitates fossorial encounters for reproduction. This is the ¢rst time fossorial encounters for reproduction are reported for an Upogebia species and probably for all Thalassinidea.

Density of larval and adult forms of the burrowing crustaceansLepidophthalmus siriboia(Callianassidae) andUpogebia vasquezi(Upogebiidae) in an Amazon estuary, northern Brazil

“…In relation to larval development of thalassinidean species, according to Pohle et al (2011) larval information is available for about one-eighth of the species and one-quarter of known genera. Therefore, studies on the population and reproductive biology of these species, such as those previously carried out by Rodrigues (1976), Dworschak (1988), Tamaki & Ingole (1993), Dumbauld et al (1996), Nates & Felder (1999), Berkenbusch & Rowden (2000), Tamaki & Miyabe (2000), Candisani et al (2001), Kinoshita et al (2003), Botter-Carvalho et al (2007) and Rotherham & West (2009) are important to understand the lifecycle of thalassinideans and the management of this group.…”

Estimating density of intertidal ghost shrimps using counts of burrow openings. Is the method reliable?

“…This species commences breeding in September each year and perhaps the increase in the number of burrow openings alters burrow structure to facilitate contact between males and females (e.g. Candisani et al, 2001) or to optimise water flow in burrows when females are carrying eggs.…”

“…Many studies around the world have found that the number of burrow openings made by thalassinidean shrimps can depend on the sediment properties, organic content or population density of a site (Griffis & Chavez, 1988;Rowden & Jones, 1995;Berkenbusch & Rowden, 2000) suggesting that the relationship between the number of burrow openings and the number of shrimp may be site specific. Because studies of Callianassa burrow casts have often shown consistent overall burrow structure (Stapleton et al, 2002;Coelho et al, 2000;Candisani et al, 2001) it is possible that in some areas the number of openings would be constant and significantly related to the number of shrimp individuals.…”

Plankton-Caught Zoeal Stages and Megalopa of the Lobster Shrimp Axius serratus (Decapoda: Axiidae) from the Bay of Fundy, Canada, With A Summary of Axiidean and Gebiidean Literature on Larval Descriptions

“…Herein collectively refered to as thalanissideans, these crustaceans occur in soft sediments primarily within intertidal and shallow subtidal waters, where they may reach high population densities (Dworschak, 1983(Dworschak, , 1987Tunberg, 1986;Candisani et al, 2001). Four axiidean species among two families are known to occur in Atlantic Canada: the axiids Axius serratus Stimpson, 1852;Calocaris templemani Squires, 1965; and the callianassids Gilvossius setimanus (Dekay, 1844) (5 Callianassa atlantica Rathbun, 1926) and Biffarius biformis (Biffar, 1971) (5 Callianassa biformis) (Squires, 1990).…”