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Epibiotic protozoan communities on juvenile southern king crabs (Lithodes santolla) from subantarctic areas

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Abstract

In this study, we describe for the first time the composition of epibiotic protozoan communities on juvenile southern king crabs Lithodes santolla. Basibionts were collected in subantarctic bays near Santa Ana Point (Magellan Strait, Chile). Seven epibiotic protozoan ciliates were found: Ephelota gemmipara, Ephelota gigantea, Podophrya fixa, Acineta tuberosa, Zoothamnium duplicatum, Chilodochona quennerstedti and Gymnodinioides sp. The mean number of epibionts per crab was 99 (maximum 897). Both Ephelota species were the most abundant and most widely distributed epibionts on the crab examined. The lengths of basibionts were correlated with the number of epibionts, indicating a relationship between the age of the crab and the state of epibiosis. Epibionts differed in their distribution patterns along the anteroposterior axis of the crab. Less abundant species tended to occupy sites that are not colonized by the predominant Ephelota species. Maxillipeds and pereiopods were most densely colonized by epibionts. The behaviours of epibionts and basibionts related to epibiosis are discussed. The recent studies about invasive lithodids in Antarctic areas enhance the interest for the epibiotic communities colonizing these crustaceans, which can illustrate changes in biodiversity and state of these environments.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Editor and anonymous reviewers for their helpful and constructive comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Pnta 9, Complutense University, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Gregorio Fernandez-Leborans

  2. Programa de Magíster en Ciencias mención Manejo y Conservación de Recursos Naturales en Ambientes Subantárticos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile

    César A. Cárdenas

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  1. Gregorio Fernandez-Leborans
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  2. César A. Cárdenas
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Correspondence to Gregorio Fernandez-Leborans.

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Fernandez-Leborans, G., Cárdenas, C.A. Epibiotic protozoan communities on juvenile southern king crabs (Lithodes santolla) from subantarctic areas. Polar Biol 32, 1693–1703 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-009-0669-3

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