Nutritional vulnerability of early zoeal stages of the invasive shrimp Lysmata vittata (Decapoda: Caridea) in the Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

Lysmata vittata is considered an invasive shrimp in the Atlantic Ocean and some characteristics might have contributed to its invasive success, such as its larval nutritional vulnerability during the early stages of development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the early larval stages of the shrimp L. vittata. Ovigerous specimens were captured in an estuarine region of north-eastern Brazil. Zoeae were assigned to two experiments: (1) the point of no return (PNR), consisting of treatments with an increasing number of days of starvation and subsequent days of feeding; and (2) the point of reserve saturation (PRS), consisting of treatments with an increasing number of days of feeding and subsequent days of starvation. Two control groups were considered: continuous starvation (CS) and continuous feeding (CF). Nutritional vulnerability was estimated by the time when 50% of the initially starved larvae (PNR50) lost the ability to moult to the next stage, when 50% of the initially fed larvae (PRS50) were capable of moulting to the next stage. In the CF, the mean development time (±SD) of the larvae that reached stage III was 4.36 ± 0.74 days with a mortality of 70%, and the mean carapace length (±SD) was 0.61 ± 0.04 mm CL. The PNR50 and PRS50 were 2.42 ± 0.14 and 1.32 ± 0.83 days, respectively. The nutritional vulnerability index (PRS50/PNR50 = 0.54) indicates that L. vittata presents intermediate dependence on exogenous food during the early larval stages, which might help our understanding of the invasive potential of this species in the Atlantic Ocean.

Nutritional vulnerability of early zoeal stages of the ornamental shrimp Lysmata ankeri (Decapoda: Caridea)

“…FSL was also recorded for L. ankeri in the study by Calado et al (2008b). FSL is commonly observed in other shrimp of the genus Lysmata with ornamental interest, such as L. boggessi studied by Calado et al (2007b), L. seticaudata by Calado et al (2007b) and Calado et al (2008b), and L. vittata by Barros-Alves et al (2020). In this case, according to Anger (2001) and Espinoza et al (2016), the larvae can hatch with parts of the egg yolk deposited in the form of lipid droplets reflected by increasing fat in the hepatopancreas, which are responsible for nutrition in this initial phase.…”

“…This suggestion is supported in the study by Barros-Alves et al . (2020), in which larvae that were not fed during the first day died or did not moult to the next stage. Periods of starvation also negatively affected the body size of the Neocaridina davidi (Bouvier, 1904) (Pantaleão et al ., 2015) and Lysmata vittata (Stimpson, 1860) (Barros-Alves et al ., 2020), in which larvae smaller than those exposed to continuous feeding were observed for the newly hatched stages, when exposed to starvation immediately after hatching.…”

“…(2020), in which larvae that were not fed during the first day died or did not moult to the next stage. Periods of starvation also negatively affected the body size of the Neocaridina davidi (Bouvier, 1904) (Pantaleão et al ., 2015) and Lysmata vittata (Stimpson, 1860) (Barros-Alves et al ., 2020), in which larvae smaller than those exposed to continuous feeding were observed for the newly hatched stages, when exposed to starvation immediately after hatching. Other studies have also shown that the size of the larvae may be smaller when subjected to the starvation period and these studies point to a direct relation between starvation time and the irreversible effects in the larvae (e.g., larval size) (Mikami et al ., 1993; Giménez and Anger, 2005; Calado et al ., 2005a; Figueiredo et al ., 2008).…”

“…(2018), and L. vittata Barros-Alves et al . (2020). However, many decapod larvae present PRS values greater than PNR (NVI > 1), and are completely dependent on exogenous food, such as: Armases cinereum (Bosc, 1801) studied by Staton and Sulkin (1991); Petrolisthes laevigatus (Guérin, 1835) by Gebauer et al .…”

“…(2008b), and L. vittata by Barros-Alves et al . (2020). In this case, according to Anger (2001) and Espinoza et al .…”