First description of heavy skeletal deformations in Palaemon shrimp populations of European estuaries: the case of the Gironde (France)

Abstract

This study aims at analyzing morphological deformities in Palaemon population in the Gironde estuary. The most frequent abnormalities affected cephalothorax and rostrum, and to a lesser extent scaphocerites and uropods (with spectacular dissymmetry), whilst only few cases of antenna and telson deformities were observed. References on morphological abnormalities of crustaceans can be found in the literature, but dealing with only isolated individuals and not for Palaemonids species, whilst in the Gironde estuary up to 40% of adult individuals are affected. Deformities likely depend on water pollutants, among others heavy metals and PCBs. This hypothesis should be tested considering other European estuaries with similar features.

Deformities in larvae and juvenile European lobster (<i>Homarus gammarus</i>) exposed to lower pH at two different temperatures

“…(Govind and Pearce, 1986). Deformities of 40 to 58 % have also been found in wild populations of shrimps of the genus Palaemon in the Gironde estuary in France (Béguer et al, 2008(Béguer et al, , 2010. The deformities (wrinkled or bent carapace, bent rostrum and damages in the tail fan) were reported to affect adult individual mortality and egg production.…”

Exoskeletal deformities in Palaemonidae: Are they a threat to survival?

“…This phenomenon has recently been observed and briefly described for Palaemon genus shrimp populations in the Gironde estuary, but it also affects, although to a lesser degree, shrimp in other French and European estuaries, especially the Scheldt (Belgium) and the Rhine (Rotterdam, Netherlands) (Béguer et al, 2008). In 2006, on average, over 40% of shrimp observed in the Gironde population were suffering from deformities (Béguer et al, 2008). Such a phenomenon, affecting a very large proportion of individuals from wild populations, has never been described before.…”

“…The rostrum is also often partly affected: either bent to one side, or pointing downwards. Some often spectacular dissymmetries, caused by scaphocerite or uropod hypertrophy, have also been described for both species (Béguer et al 2008).…”

“…Exoskeletal deformity is a major phenomenon that has affected some shrimp of the Palaemon genus (P. longirostris, P. macrodactylus and P. serratus) for over 15 years (Béguer et al, 2008). This phenomenon has recently been observed and briefly described for Palaemon genus shrimp populations in the Gironde estuary, but it also affects, although to a lesser degree, shrimp in other French and European estuaries, especially the Scheldt (Belgium) and the Rhine (Rotterdam, Netherlands) (Béguer et al, 2008).…”

Life history traits of the invasive estuarine shrimp <i>Palaemon macrodactylus</i> (Caridea: Palaemonidae) in a marine environment (Mar del Plata, Argentina)

“…The recent introduction in European waters also occurred through harbours (Ashelby et al 2004, Cuesta et al 2004'Udekem d 'Acoz et al 2005, González-Ortegón et al 2007, Béguer et al 2007, Lavesque et al 2010, Chicharo et al 2009, Micu y Niţă 2009, St.Raykov et al 2010, Soors et al 2010. The distribution of the species in Asia, Europe and North America seems to be associated with estuarine or brackish water coastal areas, benefitting from the strong osmoregulatory capacity shown by adults (Born 1968 The available information on P. macrodactylus deals with the geographic distribution (above references), ecological interactions , González-Ortegón et al 2009), larval development (Little 1969), egg structure and infection (Fisher 1983a, Fisher 1983b, Fisher and Clark 1983, and morphological abnormalities (Béguer et al 2008(Béguer et al , 2010b. Although some life history traits have been documented in several estuaries (Siegfried 1980, González-Ortegón 2008, Béguer et al 2011, the only comprehensive study of its life history was carried out in Japan by Omori and Chida (1988a), on a native population in brackish water.…”