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The symbiotic relationship between Lychnorhiza lucerna (Scyphozoa, Rhizostomeae) and Libinia spinosa (Decapoda, Epialtidae) in the Río de la Plata (Argentina–Uruguay)

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Abstract

Herein, we characterize a symbiotic relationship between the scyphomedusa Lychnorhiza lucerna and the decapod crustacean Libinia spinosa in Río de la Plata, South America. Of 843 specimens of L. lucerna examined during the study, 69 (8.2 %) hosted L. spinosa within subgenital spaces. The broad spatial and temporal scale of the study, together with the large number of observations made, confirm an association between the two species. Medusae having crab associates were mature and larger than those lacking such symbionts. Adult crabs of both sexes, as well as juveniles and soft-shell individuals, were found as associates of medusae. Analysis of crab stomach contents revealed the presence of nematocysts and copepod remains. Our results suggest that medusae provide protection and possibly access to food for crabs. Benefits related to transportation were not clear and need further evaluation. Crabs of L. spinosa may acquire their scyphozoan symbionts either as larvae planktonic stages or as adult crabs attaching to jellyfish when aggregating close to bottom.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Fabián Acuña for the help in identification of the anemone species. We gratefully acknowledge Dr. Dale Calder for his help on English Grammar and Style, which highly improved this manuscript. This work was partially funded by INIDEP and FONCyT PICT 02200. This is INIDEP contribution No 1723.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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The methods and experiments comply with current laws of the country in which they were performed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), CONICET, FCEyN, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3350, Mar del Plata, Argentina

    M. P. Sal Moyano, A. Schiariti, D. A. Giberto, L. Diaz Briz, M. A. Gavio & H. W. Mianzan

  2. Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP), Paseo V. Ocampo Nº 1, Mar del Plata, Argentina

    A. Schiariti, D. A. Giberto, L. Diaz Briz & H. W. Mianzan

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  1. M. P. Sal Moyano
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Correspondence to M. P. Sal Moyano.

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Communicated by J. Purcell.

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Sal Moyano, M.P., Schiariti, A., Giberto, D.A. et al. The symbiotic relationship between Lychnorhiza lucerna (Scyphozoa, Rhizostomeae) and Libinia spinosa (Decapoda, Epialtidae) in the Río de la Plata (Argentina–Uruguay). Mar Biol 159, 1933–1941 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-1980-z

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