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Potential host species were searched for decapod crustaceans along the coasts of Espírito Santo State, Brazil. On five species of sea anemones checked, nine species of decapods were encountered. On three species of black coral checked, two decapod species were encountered. On six species of gorgonians checked, three species of decapods were encount...
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... are common in the marine environment. Some taxa appear to be particularly prone to be involved in associations. It is the crustaceans that probably form more associations with other classes than any other marine animals (Ross, 1983), crustacean – cnidarian associations being particularly common (Patton, 1967). Many associations of shrimps and crabs with other animals have been described from the eastern Atlantic (e.g. Wirtz & Diesel, 1983; Wirtz et al. , 1988; Wirtz, 1997; Wirtz & d’Udekem d’Acoz, 2001, in press; Calado et al. , 2007) and from the Caribbean (e.g. Herrnkind et al. , 1976; Criales, 1984; Patton et al. , 1985; Spotte & Bubucis, 1996). The crustaceans encountered in these studies often belonged to undescribed species. To date, however, no such studies have been made along the coast of Brazil. Searching potential hosts for associated crustaceans along the coast of Esp ́rito Santo, Brazil, was therefore likely to result in the discovery of new associations, the discovery of crustacean species new for Brazil and the discovery of undescribed species. All observations were made while SCUBA diving (43 dives, 40 during daytime, three during night-time; depth range 0– 42 m) or snorkelling during daytime and at night, from March to June 2006, along the coastline of Esp ́rito Santo. Potential host species were searched visually and symbionts were collected with the help of a small hand net. The geo- graphical coordinates of the sampling sites are: Santa Cruz, Aracruz: 20 8 00 0 S 40 8 09 0 W Curva da Jurema, Vit ́ ria: 20 8 18 0 S 40 8 17 0 W Ilha do Boi, Vit ́ ria: 20 8 18 0 S 40 8 16 0 W Guarapari: 20 8 39 0 S 40 8 30 0 W Ilhas Rasas, Guarapari: 20 8 40 0 S 40 8 22 0 W Baiuana, Guarapari: 20 8 41 0 S 40 8 19 0 W Pedra do Dent ̃o, Guarapari: 20 8 41’S 40 8 23 0 W Wreck of ‘Victory 8B’, Guarapari: 20 8 41 0 S 40 8 23 0 W Ilha Escalvada, Guarapari: 20 8 42 0 S 40 8 24 0 W Pi ́ma: 20 8 50 0 S 40 8 37 0 W Ilha dos Franceses: 20 8 55 0 S 40 8 45 0 W. The decapod specimens are deposited in the Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de S ̃o Paulo under the numbers MZUSP 17003 to 17017 and 17028 to 17044. Twenty Condylactis gigantea , in 9–19 m depth, from 5 to 35 cm diameter, were searched for crustacean symbionts. Only the smallest anemone (5 cm diameter, in 11 m depth) did not harbour crustacean symbionts. The other 19 anemones harboured eight different species of crustaceans. The most common associate was Stenorhynchus seticornis (Herbst, 1788), found at 17 anemones, in group-sizes of one to six. These spider crabs were usually at the outer margin of the sea anemone but with one or several legs between the anemone’s tentacles and touching the tentacles of the anemone (Figure 1). The crab Mithraculus forceps (A. Milne-Edwards, 1875) was found at 12 anemones, usually hidden below the tentacles, close to the stem of the anemone. Other decapod species encountered with Condylactis gigantea were Periclimenes yucatanicus (Ives, 1891) (a single individual in five cases and two individuals in two cases), Lysmata ankeri Rhyne & Lin, 2006 (four times a single animal, once five animals; Figure 4), a male–female pair of Metoporhaphis calcarata (Say, 1818) (one case; Figure 2), Periclimenes pedersoni Chace, 1958 (one case; Figure 3), Cronius ruber (Lamarck, 1818) (one case) and an unidentified Mithrax sp. (two cases). All these decapod species were in frequent contact with the sea anemones’ tentacles. There were up to four different crustacean species associated with the same individual sea anemone. When the female of the Metoporhaphis calcarata pair and the Periclimenes pedersoni — collected from the same anemone—were transported to the surface in a plastic bag, the Metoporhaphis grabbed the Periclimenes and started to feed on it. In 15 m depth, at Ilha Escalvada, an aiptasiid anemone was hanging over the entrance of a small tunnel. The antennae of two alpheid shrimps were sticking out from this tunnel, fre- quently brushing against the anemone’s tentacles (Figure 5). The alpheids probably belong to an undescribed species, which has been reported as Alpheus armatus Rathbun, 1901 by Coelho et al. (1990) from north-east Brazil (A. Anker, personal communication). A single colony, about 80 cm high, of this bushy black coral was encountered at Ilha Escalvada in 19 m depth (Figure 6). Several specimens of Periclimenes sp. 1 were collected from it. This is likely to be an undescribed species of the Periclimenes iridescens group but the species cannot be determined, as most pereiopods of the specimens are missing. The absence of an apical process on the telson allies it to Periclimenes anti- pathophilus Spotte, Heard & Bubucis, 1994 but the single fifth pereiopod available does not have the characteristic rows of comb setae. A smaller Tanacetipathes species, about 40 cm high, was common at Baiuana in 40– 42 m depth (Figure 7). A branch of it was sent to an expert at Rio de Janeiro Natural History Museum but never identified. Several specimens of Periclimenes sp. 1 were collected from this bushy black coral. The only whip coral reported from Brazil is Cirripathes secchini Echeverria, 2002. About 20 whip corals in 40– 42 m depth at Baiuana, were checked visually and by sliding the stem through the fingers of the investigator (Figure 8). A single whip coral had a Pseudopontonides principes (Criales, 1980) clinging to it. Many specimens of this common and large gorgonian were wiped with a hand-held aquarium net at Ilha Escalvada in 15 – 20 m depth. In each case, numerous individuals of two apparently common shrimp species were caught (Figure 9). One of them belongs to the genus Neopontonides and is closely related to the species beaufortensis (Borradaile, 1920) (and was called N. beaufortensis in De Grave, 2008); this is probably an undescribed species. The second, somewhat less-common shrimp on Muricea flamma was an (at the time) undescribed species of Periclimenes , recently described as Periclimenes guarapari De Grave, 2008, currently only known from the Guarapari area. See below for other hosts of these two species. A sample of shrimps collected on 9 April in 15 m depth contained (among numerous Neopontonides sp. and Periclimenes guarapari ) a single specimen of Latreutes parvulus (Stimpson, 1866). A small colony of this gorgonian (Figure 10) was wiped with a hand-held aquarium net on 6 May, at Baiuana, in 38 m depth, and a single shrimp was collected. The gorgonian was sent to the Natural History Museum of Rio de Janeiro. The shrimp turned out to be Pseudocoutierea conchae Criales, 1981. This is a new record for Brazil for this species and is the first time that the species has been discovered since its original description from Colombia. A small colony of an unidentified white gorgonian (Figure 11) was wiped with a hand-held aquarium net on 6 May, at Baiuana, in 38 m depth, and a single shrimp was collected. This was again Neopontonides sp. (cf. the section on the gorgonian Muricea flammea ). Colonies of this large, bushy gorgonian (Figure 12) were wiped with an aquarium net, in 10–15 m depth at Ilha Escalvada. Numerous specimens of Periclimenes guarapari and Neopontonides sp. were caught (cf. section on Muricea flamma ). Six colonies of this small, bushy gorgonian (Figure 12) were covered with plastic bags and collected in toto in 17 m depth at Ilha Escalvada. Two shrimps were encountered in these plastic bags but the sample was lost and the species could not be determined. An additional colony collected in 3 m depth at Ilha dos Franceses had no symbiotic decapods. Many colonies of this large, broad gorgonian (Figure 13) were wiped with a hand-held aquarium net in 10 – 18 m depth at Ilha Escalvada and at Pi ́ma. Many specimens of Neopontonides sp. were caught in each case (cf. section on Muricea flamma ...
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... Stingrays have been observed preying on the large spatangoid echinoid Meoma ventricosa in San Salvador, Bahamas, resulting in test damage and substantial plate loss on the oral side with no observed spine damage (Grun, 2016). Other vertebrates, such as turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals also Neumann and Hampe, 2018;Borszcz and Zatón, 2013;Wilson et al., 2014;Mancosu, 2022 Margin Damage Yes Frazer et al., 1991;Kowalewski and Nebelsick, 2003;Kurz, 1995;Nebelsick, 2020;Sievers and Nebelsick, 2018 Bird Predation Crushing No references in Nebelsick, 2003 Turtles Predation Crushing No Chesher, 1969 Mammals Predation Crushing No Nebelsick, 1999 Crustaceans Predatory Decapods Predation Crushing No Nebelsick, 1999;Kowalewski and Nebelsick, 2003;Neumann, 2020 Margin Damage Yes Merrill andHobson, 1970;Weihe and Gray, 1968;Crozier, 1919;MacGinitie and MacGinitie, 1968Shrimp Commensal None No Brasseur et al., 2018Pea Crabs Commensal or Parasitic None No Campos-González, 1986Campos and Griffith, 1990;Campos et al., 1992;Wirtz et al., 2009;Guilherme et al., 2015 Copepods Parasitic Test gall Yes Koehler, 1898;Bonnier, 1898;Solovyev, 1961;Boucot, 1990;Radwańska and Radwański, 2005;Radwańska and Poirot, 2010;Mehl et al., 1991 Parasitic (?) Spine gall Yes Stock, 1968;Radwańska and Radwański, 2005 Maran et al., 2017;Humes, 1980;Dojiri and Humes,1982;Stock and Gooding, 1986 Barnacles Parasitic (?) Spine gall No Grignard and Jangoux, 1994;Grygier andNewman, 1991 Parasitic or Commensal Test gall No Grygier andNewman, 1991;Yamamori and Kato, 2020 Commensal Spine encrustation Yes pers. obs. ...
... Echinoids are frequently infested by pea crabs (Figure 6), which utilize their host to seek shelter, food, and a protected habitat for reproduction (e.g., Wirtz et al., 2009;Wirtz and Grave, 2009). Interactions between crabs and their echinoid hosts have been interpreted as either "commensal" or "parasitic" (e.g., Campos-González, 1986;Campos and Griffith, 1990;Campos et al., 1992;Wirtz and Grave, 2009;Guilherme et al., 2015). ...
... Echinoids are frequently infested by pea crabs (Figure 6), which utilize their host to seek shelter, food, and a protected habitat for reproduction (e.g., Wirtz et al., 2009;Wirtz and Grave, 2009). Interactions between crabs and their echinoid hosts have been interpreted as either "commensal" or "parasitic" (e.g., Campos-González, 1986;Campos and Griffith, 1990;Campos et al., 1992;Wirtz and Grave, 2009;Guilherme et al., 2015). ...
Organisms interacting with echinoids are common and produce diverse traces that are often distinctive and can be preserved in the fossil record. Thus, echinoids provide a wealth of information regarding the role of biotic interactions as drivers of ecological and morphological adaptations over macroevolutionary timescales. Studies documenting interactions with echinoids and the resulting traces have become more numerous. This Element reviews the ecologies of skeletal trace-producing interactions on echinoids in Modern ecosystems and the recognition of those biogenic traces in the fossil record. The authors explore diversification and morphological trends in Meso-Cenozoic echinoid clades and associated predator and parasite groups in the context of selective pressures brought about by the evolution of these biotic interactions. Their intent is that this review promotes additional studies documenting the intensity of biotic interactions with echinoids in both Recent and fossil assemblages and highlights their potential to advance our understanding of ecosystem functioning and evolution. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
... Both B. annulata and L. lucida can host up to six species of crustations each (see Brooker et al. 2019) and B. ilkalyseae has been noted to associate with a snapping shrimp species, Alpheus aff. Armatus (Wirtz, Melo, and Grave 2009). here we report an observation of B. lux associating with P. yucatanicus ( Figure 5). ...
Here we describe a new species of sea anemone from the family Aiptasiidae based on specimens collected from the Gulf of Mexico (USA: Florida & Alabama). Accounts of this species have been known since the early 1990’s, primarily from an underwater field guide and hobbyist aquarium literature under the name “Lightbulb Anemone.” We describe it as a new species from the genus Bellactis based on anatomy, histology, and cnidom. Members of this species are small in size, with a smooth, typically contracted column divided into regions based on color and bearing rows of two or three elevated cinclides in the mid column. Their tentacles are distinctive, translucent, distally inflated and can be bulbous in shape, with sub annular rings. This description synthesizes information about Bellactis and contextualizes what is known about its diversity in light of other members of the Aiptasiidae.
... A la Universidad de Córdoba, por el respaldo logístico y financiero; a ASOCAIMAN, por todo el apoyo y contribución para la realización de este trabajo, y especialmente, a Clara Sierra por su interés y aportación al desarrollo del proyecto; a José Sáenz y Martin Berrocal, por su colaboración en el trabajo de campo, al Centro de Investigación Piscícola, por la disponibilidad del Laboratorio de Microscopía y el uso de equipos para fotografiar los especímenes recolectados, y a los revisores anónimos por los comentarios que contribuyeron a mejorar este trabajo. (1989); Wirtz et al. (2009) ...
Se evaluaron algunos aspectos ecológicos y poblacionales del equinoideo irregular Encope michelini en el sector La Ahumadera, bahía de Cispatá; para ello se realizaron 7 salidas de campo de marzo a septiembre de 2017. En cada una se emplearon 5 transectos de 10 m de largo por 2 m de ancho. Se procedió a contabilizar el número de individuos totales para así estimar la densidad poblacional, además se registró la talla de cada organismo y algunas medidas morfométricas complementarias. Por otra parte, se estudió la relación ecológica de este equinoideo con el cangrejo Dissodactylus crinitichelis. Dentro de los principales resultados, se obtuvo que la densidad media de E. michelini fue 0.58 ± 0.14 ind m-2 , además de presentar una distribución de tallas multimodal registrándose una media de 9.91 ± 0.25 cm. Se hallaron 64 individuos de D. crinitichelis en 14.5% de la población de E. michelini (405 individuos). E. michelini actúa como un sustrato conveniente para D. crinitichelis, encontrándose así mayor presencia en equinoideos con tallas entre 10 y 10.5 cm. Además, factores como la morfología de E. michelini, pueden influir en la abundancia de simbiontes por huésped y el porcentaje de hospederos ocupados.
... The species Dissodactylus crinitichelis (Pinnotheridae, De Haan, 1833) is distributed from North Carolina to Argentina. In Brazil, this species has a wide distribution along the coast (Melo, 1996), and it has been found in association with the Clypeasteroidea sand dollars Encope emarginata (Leske, 1778), E. michelini (Agassiz, 1841), Clypeaster subdepressus (Gray, 1825) and Leodia sexiespeforata (Leske, 1778) and the Spatangoidea Meoma vetricosa (Lamarck, 1816) (Rathbun, 1901, Telford, 1978, 1982, Campos and Solís-Marín, 1998, Wirtz et al., 2009). Due to the generalist nature of Dissodactylus crinitichelis (De Bruyn et al., 2011), we tested whether this species is attracted to water-borne cues from a specific host species. ...
The ability of chemical recognition is important for marine invertebrates to detect if host conditions (such as stress) are suitable for colonisation, and the presence of conspecifics can also be important for host switching. We investigated whether Dissodactylus crinitichelis can recognize the sand dollar Encope emarginata by chemical cues, and if factors such as host stress condition and presence of conspecifics may affect its chemical attraction to the host. In the host cue treatment, crabs showed no significant attraction (p = .1), although they perceived host stress conditions extensively in the host stress experiment, and mostly avoided the host (p < .01) water. In the host plus conspecifics experiment, crabs significantly responded (p < .01) to these cues. The lack of attraction to host cues suggested that the host presence is not enough to induce attraction on the crabs. Moreover, host cues might not be as stimulant as host stress cues, which might signal that hosts are not suitable, or that these cues might infer predation risk to the symbionts. Finally, the presence of conspecifics on the hosts may be a reliable way to encounter suitable hosts. It may also increase the chance of finding mating partners and thus mating opportunities; therefore, the higher preference for occupied hosts is important for the mating system of the crabs. The results reject the hypothesis that the symbiont-host relationship is based exclusively on host chemical cues, suggesting that intrinsic triggers, such as host condition and conspecific presence can induce host recognition and influence crab behaviour and mating success.
... Although often cryptic, symbionts are important contributors to the biodiversity of the benthic ecosystems (e.g. Lattig & Martin 2011a and references therein, Wirtz et al. 2009). Therefore, they are undoubtedly highly relevant from ecological and conservation perspectives in our changing ocean conditions. ...
Here we consider the growing knowledge on symbiotic polychaetes since this particular group of worms, and their relationships with their hosts, were reviewed by Martin & Britayev (1998). The current number of symbiotic polychaetes (excluding myzostomids) reported has almost doubled since 1998 (618 versus 373 species) and are now known to be involved in 1626 relationships (966 in 1998), representing 245 and 660 newly reported species and relationships, respectively. Overall, 490 (292 in 1998) species involved in 1229 (713 in 1998) relationships are commensals, and 128 (81 in 1998) involved in 397 (253 in 1998) relationships are parasitic. New commensal and parasitic species and/ or relationships have been respectively reported for eight (Chaetopteridae, Siboglinidae, Fabriciidae, Aphroditidae, Orbiniidae, Pholoididae, Scalibregmatidae, Sigalionidae) and five (Fabriciidae, Typhloscolecidae, Phyllodocidae, Polynoidae, Hesionidae, Serpulidae) polychaete families. Three additional taxa (cephalopod molluscs, gorgonocephalid ophiuroids and ascidian tunicates) are now known to harbour commensal polychaetes, and a further three taxa (decapod crustaceans, chaetognaths and brachiopods) are now known to host parasitic polychaetes. Here we discuss, family by family, the main characteristics and nature of symbiotic polychaetes and their relationships. We conclude that some of the biases identified in 1998 are still uncorrected. Despite the noticeable increase of taxonomic studies describing new species and reporting new relationships, there is still a lack of ecological and biological studies, either descriptive or experimental (e.g. based on behavioural observations of living organisms), addressing the actual nature of the associations. We have also identified that most studies are restricted to a specialised academic world. The next logical step would be to transfer this knowledge to non-specialised audiences. In other words, to contribute to the preservation of our seas, it is our duty to raise awareness of the potential ecological and economic impacts of these symbiotic associations and to allow other eyes to enjoy the intrinsic beauty of symbiotic worms.
... Although often cryptic, symbionts are important contributors to the biodiversity of the benthic ecosystems (e.g. Lattig & Martin 2011a and references therein, Wirtz et al. 2009). Therefore, they are undoubtedly highly relevant from ecological and conservation perspectives in our changing ocean conditions. ...
... S. debilis was likely to be selective in its diet (Crane 1937 p. 50). Members of the genus Stenopus, Lysmata, Mithraculus, Thor, Clibanarius and Stenorhynchus are symbiotic cleaning crews so part of their diet could be naturally provided in the aquarium (Medeiros et al. 2011;Wirtz et al. 2009). In fact, the criteria to choose artificial fed for opportunistic omnivorous crabs should consider that even a minor morphologic variation can open to additional food choices and/or modify behavior (Allardyce and Linton 2010; Claverie and Smith 2007;Creswell and Mardsen 1990;Dahdouh-Guebas et al. 1999;Huber et al. 2000;Mariappan et al. 2009;Monteforte 1987;Parsons 1998, 2000;Squires 2003;Vermeij 1978;Williams 1981Williams , 1982. ...
Ornamental marine species from the tropical west American coast are poorly known although many of them are being commercialized since a while ago. For example, yellow-arrow spider crabs, Stenorhynchus debilis (Brachyura: Inachidea), are frequently found for sale in web-based stores and as tenants into domestic aquaria. Therefore, the interest in studying the species’ requirements for management in land-based conditions is pertinent. This paper examines S. debilis as experimental actor. Specimens were collected along May to August 2015 into cultivation artifacts designed for pearl oysters farming at La Paz bay, Gulf of California. Five experiments were prepared towards two main objectives viewing at the practical framework of ornamental marine species: (1) Find the species’ profile into selected tests. Data included: anesthetic therapies, acute responses to temperature and salinity, special effects (food and feeding, density, sex-ratio, size, shelters, and handling in general), and notes concerning ovigerous females, eggs and larvae, and (2) Evaluate outputs seeking explanations for growth, survival and performances as a function of tropical-temperate and small-crab criteria. Our results agreed with expected bio-benchmarks overall, so did as to consistency of highlights regarding compatibility in domestic aquaria, and species-dependent aspects. Nevertheless, growth happened in a diet experiment even if only one crab out of the 24 under test displayed an incomplete –deadly—molt. A triangular-like Size Index was assessed, finding that two of the three food types tested had promoted better performance. Finally, this paper may contribute with some updates for the still incomplete mosaic of knowledge about ornamental marine crabs.
... We studied the irregular sea urchin Meoma ventricosa and its parasitic pinnotherid crab Dissodactylus primitivus (De Bruyn, Rigaud, David, & De Ridder, 2009;Telford, 1982). Both species are endemic to the Caribbean Sea and to neighboring American coasts, from Florida down to Brazil (Alvarado, 2011;Chesher, 1969;Wirtz, de Melo, & De Grave, 2009). ...
Evolution and population genetic structure of marine species across the Caribbean Sea are shaped by two complex factors: the geological history and the present pattern of marine currents. Characterizing and comparing the genetic structures of codistributed species, such as host–parasite associations, allow discriminating the relative importance of environmental factors and life history traits that influenced gene flow and demographic events. Using microsatellite and Cytochrome Oxidase I markers, we investigated if a host–parasite pair (the heart urchin Meoma ventricosa and its parasitic pea crab Dissodactylus primitivus) exhibits comparable population genetic structures in the Caribbean Sea and how the observed patterns match connectivity regions from predictive models and other taxa. Highly contrasting patterns were found: the host showed genetic homogeneity across the whole studied area, whereas the parasite displayed significant differentiation at regional and local scales. The genetic diversity of the parasitic crabs (both in microsatellites and COI) was distributed in two main groups, Panama–Jamaica–St Croix on the one hand, and the South-Eastern Caribbean on the other. At a smaller geographical scale, Panamanian and Jamaican parasite populations were genetically more similar, while more genetic differentiation was found within the Lesser Antilles. Both species showed a signature of population expansion during the Quaternary. Some results match predictive models or data from previous studies (e.g., the Western-Eastern dichotomy in the parasite) while others do not (e.g., genetic differentiation within the Lesser Antilles). The sharp dissimilarity of genetic structure of these codistributed species outlines the importance of population expansion events and/or contrasted patterns of gene flow. This might be linked to differences in several life history traits such as fecundity (higher for the host), swimming capacity of larval stages (higher for the parasite), and habitat availability (higher for the host).
... Members belonging to the infraorder Decapoda, a specious clade of crustaceans [1,2], develop symbiotic associations (symbiosis here defined sensu [3] as dissimilar organisms living together) with a wide variety of invertebrate and vertebrate hosts, including poriferans, cnidarians, echinoderms, molluscs, polychaetes, ascidians, and even marine turtles [4][5][6][7][8][9]. The host-use pattern and population distribution of symbiotic crustaceans also vary widely. ...
In symbiotic crustaceans, host-use patterns vary broadly. Some species inhabit host individuals solitarily, other species live in heterosexual pairs, and even other species live in aggregations. This disparity in host-use patterns coupled with considerable differences in host ecology provide opportunities to explore how environmental conditions affect animal behavior. In this study, we explored whether or not symbiotic crustaceans inhabiting relatively large and structurally complex host species live in aggregations. We expected Periclimenes paivai, a small caridean shrimp that lives among the tentacles of the large and morphologically complex scyphozoan jellyfish Lychnorhiza lucerna, to live in groups given that the host traits above constraint host-monopolization behaviors by symbiotic crustaceans. We described the population distribution of P. paivai during a bloom of L. lucerna near the mouth of the Paraíba River estuary in Paraíba, Brazil. The population distribution of P. paivai did not differ statistically from a random Poisson distribution. Male shrimps were most often found dwelling on the surface of L. lucerna individuals as small groups (2–4 individuals), in agreement with expectations. Periclimenes paivai is a sexually dimorphic species with males attaining smaller average body sizes than females and exhibiting no elaborated weaponry (claws). Females, but not males, experience positive allometry in cheliped size and were found living solitarily in small but not large host individuals. The above suggest that females might be territorial or that they might be competing for resources (i.e., food) likely expected to impact their reproductive output. Our results agree, but only partially, with the idea that large and morphologically complex host species should harbor non-territorial gregarious symbiotic crustaceans. Symbiotic crustaceans represent excellent models to improve our understanding about the conditions driving the social behavior of marine organisms.
... In addition, due to their ecological importance as omnivorous and detritivore species, they are recognized as the cleaning crew of the marine environment, an essential component in the maintenance of coral and fish health (Gleibs et al., 1995;Stewart et al., 2006;McCammon et al., 2010;Stier et al., 2010). The distribution of decapod species is generally restricted to a specific ecosystem, substrate, shore zone or depth, with several decapods also closely related to other benthic species (Abele and Patton, 1976;Williams, 1984;Melo, 1996Melo, , 1999Wirtz et al., 2009). ...
... Several decapods are closely associated with colonial species and in some cases co-evolve, with a specific decapod acting as the host. In the Caribbean Sea, (Abele and Patton, 1976;Bruce, 1978;Wirtz et al., 2009;Blanco et al., 2011). Some species visibly display a coevolutionary pattern similar to that reported for insect and plant relationship (van Tussenbroek et al., 2016). ...
... In this study, the majority of decapods from the external habitual niche were observed in association with colonial benthic species and have been recorded in further studies associated to hosts. Examples include herbivorous Mithracinae species captured among algae and corals (Coen, 1988;Wilber and Wilber, 1989;Melo, 1996;Rhyne et al., 2005;Blanco et al., 2011;Giraldes et al., 2015a); S. seticornis among sponges, corals, octocorals, gorgonians, anemones, sea lilies and urchins (Hayes et al., 1998;Wirtz et al., 2009); Domecia acanthophora in corals such as Myllepora and Acrophora (Patton, 1967); Dromia erythrops and other dromioideas holding sponges and near sponges in reefs (Melo, 1996); species of the genus Platypodiella associated with the zooanthus Palythoa (Hartog and Türkay, 1991;Gleibs et al., 1995;Araujo and Freitas, 2003); Carpilius corallinus and other species of this genus associated with coral reef areas (Melo, 1996;Wetzer et al., 2003); species of the genus Calcinus associated with corals (Malay and Paulay, 2010). Species within this habitat are generally small decapods with low displacement capacity with a specific adaptive anti-predator strategy related to the hosts. ...
The relationship between populations of marine organisms and physicochemical gradients directly influence distributions of species within associated seascapes. This study examines the impact that exposure to sunlight and substrate type has on the distribution of decapods in a tropical coastal reef environment. The study was performed at night when the species are at their most active using a visual census methodology to observe the natural nocturnal behaviour. The research revealed the existence of three distinct habitats housing specific decapod assemblages within tropical hard substrate environments; the External-Reef habitat which accommodates colonial benthic host decapods; the Crevicular-Reef habitat which accommodates the reef-stygofauna; and the Interface habitat between the reef and soft substrate which is habituated by transient decapod species. The findings extend the previous zonation patterns for decapods to the subtidal zone using physical parameters as the rationale defining allocation. The study collated and reviewed documented taxonomic and ecological evidence which supports this division of decapods into similar reef seascapes worldwide. It further proposes that this format of subtidal zonation may be applicable on a global scale to species which inhabit a comparable ecological niche within tropical zones.
