Ecological note on Troglocarcinus corallicola (Brachyura: Cryptochiridae) living in symbiosis with Manicina areolata (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) in the Mexican Caribbean

Carricart‐Ganivet, Juan P.; Carrera-Parra, Luis F.; Quan-Young, Lizette I.; García-Madrigal, María del Socorro

doi:10.1007/s00338-004-0381-2

Cited by 25 publications

(26 citation statements)

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“…These crabs settle, as megalopa on a host colony, modify the patterns of calcium deposition during coral growth, and produce depressions or dome-like cavities through alimentary mechanisms and movements (Carricart-Ganivet et al 2004). Canário et al (2014) identified higher abundances of T. hirsutus associated with M. braziliensis, followed by M. hispida, and less number of crabs were recorded in M. harttii colonies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Specific growth patterns may protect associated individuals or expose them to predators. The coral may provide food by trapping particulate material, mucus and tissue; it also provides shelter against environmental stressors (Carricart-Ganivet et al 2004). Edwards and Emberton (1980) identified the effectiveness of protection against predators, provided by the branching coral Stylophora pistillata, in colonies with higher openness in branches: Richness and abundance were lower than in tighter branch colonies where fish predators had access to prey upon associated crustaceans.…”

Section: Electronic Supplementary Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of habitat structure on the epifaunal community in Mussismilia corals: does coral morphology influence the richness and abundance of associated crustacean fauna?

2015

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Coral habitat structures increase abundance and richness of organisms by providing niches, easy access to resources and refuge from predators. Corals harbor a great variety of animals; the variation in coral species morphology contributes to the heterogeneity and complexity of habitat types. In this report, we studied the richness and abundance of crustaceans (Decapoda, Copepoda, Peracarida and Ostracoda) associated with three species of Mussismilia exhibiting different growth morphologies, in two different coral reefs of the Bahia state (Caramuanas and Boipeba-Moreré, Brazil). Mussismilia hispida is a massive coral; M. braziliensis also has a massive growth pattern, but forms a crevice in the basal area of the corallum; M. harttii has a meandroid pattern. PERMANOVA analysis suggests significant differences in associated fauna richness among Mussismilia species, with higher values for M. harttii, followed by M. braziliensis and later by M. hispida. The same trend was observed for density, except that the comparison of M. braziliensis and M. hispida did not show differences. Redundancy and canonical correspondence analysis indicated that almost all of the crustacean species were more associated with the M. harttii colonies that formed a group clearly separated from colonies of M. braziliensis and M. hispida. We also found that the internal volume of interpolyp space, only present in M. harttii, was the most important factor influencing richness and abundance of all analyzed orders of crustaceans.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Electronic Supplementary Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of habitat structure on the epifaunal community in Mussismilia corals: does coral morphology influence the richness and abundance of associated crustacean fauna?

2015

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“…Nevertheless, while the galls have been mostly attributed to ramose colonies enclosing water-filtering crabs, the pits have been related to massive corals that usually shelter individuals adapted to feed on living and nonliving particles deposited on the border of the cavities (Potts 1915, Carricart-Ganivet et al 2004. Hence, circumstantial differentiation among gall and "pit" dwellers has apparently provided a base for the correlation among the different feeding mechanisms of crabs, and the effectiveness of the morphological spatial arrays (branching vs. massive) of coral hosts (Abelson et al 1993, Carricart-Ganivet et al 2004.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ecologically, there is no full agreement if the cryptochirid-scleractinian relationship may be interpreted as a case of commensalism, mutualism or parasitism (Kropp 1986, Abelson et al 1991, Reed et al 1992, SimonBlecher et al 1999, Carricart-Ganivet et al 2004.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Description of a new genus of Cryptochiridae (Decapoda: Brachyura) associated with <i>Siderastrea</i> (Anthozoa: Scleractinia), with notes on feeding habits

Badaró¹,

Neves²,

Castro³

et al. 2012

Sci. Mar.

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SUMMARY: Members of the Cryptochiridae are small gall-crabs that live as obligate symbionts of scleractinian corals. Only two species have so far been recorded in the western Atlantic Ocean. Herein a new Cryptochiridae genus and species is described, and new information is added on the life history of cryptochirids. The new genus is characterized by having the carapace with the lowest deflection angle among the genera, and also shows the following features: thoracic sternite 4 with setules and constriction smaller than half of the width of the basis, anterior margin curved with apical row of granules; third maxilliped with subcircular exopod reaching medially the lateral margin of the ischium; pereiopod 2 with prominent distomesial and anterolateral expansion on the merus, propodus almost twice larger than dactylus; thoracic sternite 7 with complete medial suture, female pleopod 3 uniramous with longitudinal opening. Male first pleopod straight with subdistal curvature of approximately 90°. Individuals belonging to the new genus are found in galls in massive corals although this structure is cited as being characteristic of ramified corals. The long plumose setae of the maxilliped 3 suggest a filter-feeding function, but the toothless chelae suggest that they are used to gather mucus.Keywords: gall crab, associated fauna, coral reef, symbiosis, Cnidaria.RESUMEN: Descripción De un nuevo género De cryptochiriDae (DecapoDa: Brachyura) asociaDo com siDerastrea (anthozoa: scleractinia), con notas soBre los háBitos alimentarios. -Los miembros de la familia Cryptochiridae son pequeños cangrejos agallas que viven como simbiontes obligados en corales escleractiniarios. Sólo dos especies han sido registradas del Océano Atlántico occidental. Se describe un nuevo género y especie de Cryptochiridae asociados con corales de la familia Siderastreidae y se añade información sobre el ciclo de vida de los cryptochíridos. El nuevo género se caracteriza por tener el ángulo de desviación menor entre los géneros, que también muestra las siguientes características: esternón torácico 4 menor que la mitad del ancho del basis y el margen anterior curvo con una hilera de gránulos; tercero maxilípedo con exopodito subcircular, alcanzando el margen medial lateral del isquion; pereiópodo 2 con una prominente expansión distomesial e anterolateral en el mero, propodio casi dos veces más grande que el dáctilo; esternón torácico 7 con una sutura medial completa, pleópodo 3 unirrámeo, con abertura longitudinal. Pleópodo 1 del macho recto con curvature subdistal de alrededos 90°. Los individuos del nuevo género viven en agallas en corales masivos a pesar de que esta estructura es citada como características de corales ramificados. Las largas setas plumosas del maxilipedo 3 sugieren una función filtradora, pero las quelas sin dientes sugieren su uso para colectar moco.

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“…1b, c). Little detailed information is known about the ecology and host specificity of gall crab species (Kropp 1989;Carricart-Ganivet et al 2004), which may be related to their cryptic lifestyle. Besides residing in coral, they also feed on the host's mucus (Kropp 1986).…”

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confidence: 99%

Gall crab city: an aggregation of endosymbiotic crabs inhabiting a colossal colony of Pavona clavus

Hoeksema

Meij

2012

Coral Reefs

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Ecological note on Troglocarcinus corallicola (Brachyura: Cryptochiridae) living in symbiosis with Manicina areolata (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) in the Mexican Caribbean

Cited by 25 publications

References 7 publications

Effects of habitat structure on the epifaunal community in Mussismilia corals: does coral morphology influence the richness and abundance of associated crustacean fauna?

Effects of habitat structure on the epifaunal community in Mussismilia corals: does coral morphology influence the richness and abundance of associated crustacean fauna?

Description of a new genus of Cryptochiridae (Decapoda: Brachyura) associated with <i>Siderastrea</i> (Anthozoa: Scleractinia), with notes on feeding habits

Gall crab city: an aggregation of endosymbiotic crabs inhabiting a colossal colony of Pavona clavus

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