Temperature-driven biogeography of the deep-sea family Lithodidae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) in the Southern Ocean

Abstract

Species' distributions are dynamic and are linked to the changing physical environment. Temperature is considered to be a major factor inXuencing biogeography, especially in ectotherms such as the family Lithodidae. Lithodids are rare amongst decapods in their ability to inhabit the higher latitudes of the Southern Ocean; however, they are usually found in locations where water temperature is above 0.5°C. This study, for the Wrst time, provides a baseline indication of the limits of the lithodid distribution around Antarctica, which will be instrumental in any future work on range extensions in this group. The distribution of lithodids is likely to change as temperatures along the West Antarctic Peninsula continue to rise, and range extensions by durophagous predators, such as the lithodids, are regarded as a potential threat to the unique structure of Antarctic continental-shelf ecosystems.

A large population of king crabs in Palmer Deep on the west Antarctic Peninsula shelf and potential invasive impacts

“…It has recently been argued that lithodid crabs, and many other large durophagous (crushing) predators, have been excluded from the cold waters of the high Antarctic continental shelf (less than 600 m depths) for more than 14 Myr [1,2]. It is hypothesized that the Lithodidae have failed to colonize the Antarctic shelf due to lower thermal limits of 0.4-28C for adults and/or larvae [1][2][3].…”

“…It is hypothesized that the Lithodidae have failed to colonize the Antarctic shelf due to lower thermal limits of 0.4-28C for adults and/or larvae [1][2][3]. It is further speculated that the absence for millions of years of lithodids and other durophagous predators (e.g.…”

Evidence for protracted and lecithotrophic larval development in the yeti crab Kiwa tyleri from hydrothermal vents of the East Scotia Ridge, Southern Ocean

“…Anger et al 2003, Watts et al 2006. Food independence and associated reduction in activity (little to no swimming), and demersal life of larvae have frequently been used as ecological features explaining the success of this group in cold waters, in particular in the Southern Ocean (for discussion, compare Lovrich 1999, Thatje et al 2005, Hall & Thatje 2011. Further, subtle but significant differences in the level of lecithotrophy have been identified among other species, indicating variations in the length of food independence as well as metabolic efficiency (Kattner et al 2003, Saborowski et al 2006, Thatje & Mestre 2010.…”

“…Further, most crabs seem to lack the ability to down-regulate Mg 2+ contents in their haemolymph below that of seawater, which at polar temperatures leads to a narcotic state resulting in death (Frederich et al 2001). The success of the anomuran lithodid crabs in most parts of the Southern Ocean where temperatures do not drop below approximately 0.5°C (Thatje et al 2008, Hall & Thatje 2011 has been attributed to hypometabolism and the optimisation of all life-history stages to low temperature. Optimisation includes larval lecithotrophy and slow development (Anger et al 2003, Katt ner et al 2003, Thatje et al 2005, Thatje & Mestre 2010.…”

Biology of the king crab Paralomis birsteini on the continental slope off the western Antarctic Peninsula

“…They predominantly inhabit cold-water environments, but a physiological intolerance of temperatures below *0.4°C has apparently excluded them and other skeleton-crushing (durophagous) decapods from the Antarctic shelf for millions of years (Thatje et al 2005;Aronson et al 2007;Hall and Thatje 2011). Durophagous predators structure benthic communities in nearshore, subtidal environments outside of Antarctica, and introductions of decapods to seafloor environments have caused major shifts in the benthic assemblages.…”