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Ecology of the spider crab Libinia ferreirae (Brachyura: Majoidea): ontogenetic shifts in habitat use

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Abstract

We described the ecology of the spider crab Libinia ferreirae testing the habitat segregation during the ontogenetic shifts. Collections were performed monthly by trawling along the coastal area of Cananéia, São Paulo State (southeastern Brazil). Medusae were examined for the presence of any symbionts, and crabs were classified as juveniles (abdomen sealed to the sternite), adults (unsealed abdomen), and ovigerous females (embryos adhered to the pleopods). The environmental factors related to the water column were obtained using a multiparameter probe. In total, 564 adults and 357 juveniles were collected. However, all juveniles were obtained in association with Lychnorhiza lucerna medusae. An increase in the abundance of ovigerous females was observed as chlorophyll levels (phytoplanktonic production) increased, which is consistent with the patterns proposed for crustaceans with planktotrophic larval stages, i.e., the association of larval hatching with oceanic productivity could explain the success in juvenile recruitment approximately two months after the peak in the abundance of ovigerous females (cross-correlation: r = 0.96). This spider crab shows an ecological strategy of habitat segregation among juvenile and adult individuals, thus avoiding competition for resources among different life cycle stages.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to “Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo” (FAPESP) for providing financial support during field collections and visiting activities (Biota/FAPESP #2010/50188-8 and Scholarship #2014/13770-1), “Centro de Apoio Profissionalizante Educacional e Social” (CAPES CIMAR) (No. 23038.004310/2014-85), and to “Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico” (CNPq) (Financial Support # 406006/2012-1, Research Scholarships PQ 303371/2011-0 and 308653/2014-9). We thank many colleagues from the “Núcleo de Estudos em Biologia, Ecologia e Cultivo de Crustáceos” (NEBECC) group who helped with sampling and laboratory analyses; Dr. Maria Lucia Negreiros-Fransozo for useful suggestions and comments on early drafts of the manuscript; and the “Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis” (IBAMA) for granting permission to collect the shrimps.

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  1. Group of Studies on Crustacean Biology, Ecology and Culture (NEBECC), Zoology Department, Institute of Bioscience of Botucatu, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, 18618-970, Brazil

    Geslaine Rafaela Lemos Gonçalves, Raphael Cezar Grabowski & Antonio Leão Castilho

  2. Laboratory of Biology and Ecology of Marine and Freshwater Shrimps (LABCAM), Biological Science Department, Faculty of Sciences of Bauru, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, 17033-360, Brazil

    Gabriel Lucas Bochini & Rogerio Caetano da Costa

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  1. Geslaine Rafaela Lemos Gonçalves
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  2. Raphael Cezar Grabowski
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Correspondence to Geslaine Rafaela Lemos Gonçalves.

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Gonçalves, G.R.L., Grabowski, R.C., Bochini, G.L. et al. Ecology of the spider crab Libinia ferreirae (Brachyura: Majoidea): ontogenetic shifts in habitat use. Hydrobiologia 795, 313–325 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-017-3153-z

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