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The mating system of the symbiotic pea-crab Dissodactylus crinitichelis (Brachyura, Pinnotheridae): monogamy or promiscuity?

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Abstract

The mating systems of symbiotic crustaceans vary broadly, ranging from monogamy to polygamy to promiscuity. This disparity in mating systems coupled with wide differences in host ecology provides opportunities to study the effect of environmental conditions on the social behavior of marine organisms. In this study, we tested the prediction that symbiotic crustaceans inhabiting relatively large and abundant host species are promiscuous rather than monogamous. The host traits above constraint host monopolization and favor host-switching behaviors by males individuals and, thus, ultimately drive promiscuity as a mating system in symbiotic crustaceans. As a model system we used Dissodactylus crinitichelis, a small ‘pea-crab’ that inhabits the relatively large and abundant sand dollar Encope emarginata. We described the population distribution of D. crinitichelis at two intertidal localities in Sergipe, Brazil, and conducted laboratory experiments to infer the mating system of this species. Dissodactylus crinitichelis inhabit sand dollars as adult heterosexual pairs more frequently than expected by chance alone, but these heterosexual pairs did not exhibit size-assortative pairing. Sexual dimorphism was reversed in D. crinitichelis, with males attaining smaller average body sizes than females but exhibiting more elaborated weaponry (male > female claws). These findings disagree with expectations for monogamous symbiotic crustaceans. Laboratory experiments demonstrated that male and female crabs switch among host individuals rather frequently and heterosexual pairs retrieved from the field did not remain together for long times. Our results argue against social monogamy and in favor of promiscuity in D. crinitichelis. Our study supports the notion that host abundance and large body size (relative to that of symbiotic guests) favor promiscuity in symbiotic crustaceans.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. Sinara Maria Moreira for her help during fieldwork and experimental observations and to Dr. Leandro de Sousa Souto for help with some of the statistical analyses. The authors are also grateful to the reviewers and Dr. Martin Thiel for providing valuable criticism that helped us to improve earlier versions of the present manuscript. All sampling in this study was conducted according to the applicable state and federal laws. Thanks to Sarah Steedman and John L. Ambrosio for correcting the English language in previous versions of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Carcinologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, UFS, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil

    Douglas Fernandes Rodrigues Alves, Gustavo Luis Hirose & Samara de P. Barros-Alves

  2. Group of Studies on Crustacean Biology, Ecology and Culture-NEBECC, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil

    Douglas Fernandes Rodrigues Alves, Gustavo Luis Hirose & Samara de P. Barros-Alves

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, 132 Long Hall, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA

    J. Antonio Baeza

  4. Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, 701 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, FL, 34949, USA

    J. Antonio Baeza

  5. Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile

    J. Antonio Baeza

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  1. Douglas Fernandes Rodrigues Alves
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Correspondence to J. Antonio Baeza.

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This study was not funded by any grant.

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Author Douglas Fernandes Rodrigues Alves declares that he has no conflict of interest. Author Gustavo Luis Hirose declares that he has no conflict of interest. Author Samara de P. Barros-Alves declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author J. Antonio Baeza declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Responsible Editor: M. Thiel.

Reviewed by S. M. Shuster and undisclosed experts.

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Alves, D.F.R., Hirose, G.L., Barros-Alves, S.d. et al. The mating system of the symbiotic pea-crab Dissodactylus crinitichelis (Brachyura, Pinnotheridae): monogamy or promiscuity?. Mar Biol 164, 200 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-017-3234-6

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