Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Population dynamics and reproductive biology of the commensal isopod Colidotea rostrata (Crustacea: Isopoda: Idoteidae)

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Colidotea rostrata (Benedict, 1898) is the only known commensal idoteid isopod, living on and mimicking the color of two northeastern Pacific sea urchins of the genus Strongylocentrotus. The population dynamics and reproductive biology of C. rostrata on its host urchins were studied at a low rocky intertidal area in southern California (33°40′N; 118°30′W) from December 1984 to December 1986. Isopod populations remained relatively stable throughout the 2 yr study, with isopods inhabiting an average of 56.1% of the urchins at 6.1±0.6 (x±2 SE) isopods per urchin. Female isopods reach sexual maturity at a length of 6.8 mm. Fecundity in C. rostrata averaged 11.8±0.9 (x±2 SE) embryos per brood, and increased with female body size. Breeding occurs all year long in C. rostrata, with a main reproductive period between the warmer spring and summer months. Newly released mancas and juvenile isopods were present during all months of the study. C. rostrata differs from the free-living Idoteidae in its smaller maximum size, reduced fecundity, 1:1 sex ratio, and low juvenile mortality. These features may represent adaptations to a commensal life style that reflect a reduced mortality pressure on these isopods.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Brusca, R. C. (1983). Two new idoteid isopods from Baja California and the Gulf of California (Mexico) and an analysis of the evolutionary history of the genus Colidotea (Crustacea: Isopoda: Idoteidae). Trans. S Diego Soc. nat. Hist. 20: 69–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Brusca, R. C. (1984). Phylogeny, evolution and biogeography of the marine isopod subfamily Idoteinae (Crustacea: Isopoda: Idoteidae). Trans. S Diego Soc. nat. Hist. 20: 99–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Brusca, R. C., Iverson, E. W. (1985). A guide to the marine isopod Crustacea of Pacific Costa Rica. Revta Biol. trop. 33 (Suppl. 1): 1–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Brusca, R. C., Perry, D. M., Houston, R. S. (unpublished m/s). The motile invertebrate community associated with Sargassum in the Gulf of California, Mexico: Mollusca and isopod Crustacea

  • Brusca, R. C., Wallerstein, B. R. (1979). Zoogeographic patterns of idoteid isopods in the northeast Pacific, with a review of shallow water zoogeography of the area. Bull. biol. Soc. Wash. 3: 67–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Durham, J. W., Wagner, C. D., Abbott, D. P. (1980). Echinoidea: the sea urchins. In: Morris, R. H., Abbott, D. P., Haderlie, E. C. (eds.) Intertidal invertebrates of California. Stanford University Press, Stanford, p. 160–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Fenwick, C. D. (1984). Life-history tactics of brooding Crustacea. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 84: 247–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, C. E., Jones, M. B., Naylor, E. (1973). Some factors affecting the distribution of estuarine isopods (Crustacea). Estuar. cstl mar. Sci. 1: 113–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Healy, B., O'Neill, M. (1984). The life cycle and population dynamics of Idotea pelagica and I. granulosa (Isopoda: Valvifera) in south-east Ireland. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 64: 21–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Howes, N. H. (1939). Observations on the biology and postembryonic development of Idotea viridis (Slabber) (Isopoda, Valvifera) from New England Creek, south-east Essex. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 23: 279–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansson, A.-M., Matthiesen, A.-S. (1971). On the ecology of young Idotea in the Baltic. Proc. 4th Eur. mar. Biol. Symp. 71–78. [Crisp, D. J. (ed.) Cambridge University Press, Cambridge]

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, W. S. (1974). Population dynamics, energetics and biology of the marine isopod Cirolana harfordi (Lockington) in Monterey Bay, California. Ph.D. dissertation, Stanford University, Stanford

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, W. S. (1976). Biology and population dynamics of the intertidal isopod Cirolana harfordi. Mar. Biol. 36: 343–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, D. A. (1970). Population densities and breeding in Eurydice pulchra and Eurydice affinis in Britain. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 50: 635–655

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, M. B. (1974) Breeding biology and seasonal population changes of Jaera nordmanni Nordica Lemercier (Isopoda, Asellota). J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 54: 727–736

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, M. B., Naylor, E. (1971). Breeding and bionomics of the British members of the Jaera albifrons group of species (Isopoda: Asellota). J. Zool. 165: 183–199

    Google Scholar 

  • Kjennerud, J. (1950). Ecological observations on Idothea neglecta G. O. Sars. Arbok Univ. Bergen (Matem.-naturvitensk. rekke) 7: 1–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Kroer, N. (1986). Distribution and habitat segregation of four species of Idotea (Isopoda) in a Danish fjord. Ophelia 25: 199–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, W. L. (1966a). Color change and the ecology of the marine isopod Idothea (Pentidotea) montereyensis Maloney, 1933. Ecology 47: 930–941

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, W. L. (1966b). Pigmentation of the marine isopod Idothea montereyensis. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 18: 17–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, W. L. (1966c). Pigmentation of the marine isopod Idothea granulosa (Rathke). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 19: 13–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, W. L. (1972). Chromatophores and their role in color change in the marine isopod Idotea montereyensis (Maloney). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 8: 201–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, W. L., Gilchrist, B. M. (1972). Pigmentation, color change and the ecology of the marine isopod Idotea resecata (Stimpson). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 10: 1–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, W. L., Miller, M. A. (1980). Isopoda and Tanaidacea: the isopods and allies. In: Morris, R. H., Abbott, D. P., Haderlie, E. C. (eds.) Intertidal invertebrates of California. Stanford University Press, Stanford, p. 536–558

    Google Scholar 

  • Luxmoore, R. A. (1982). The reproductive biology of some serolid isopods from the Antarctic. Polar Biol. 1: 3–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsden, I. D., (1982). Population biology of the commensal asellotan Iais pubescens (Dana) and its sphaeromatid host Exosphaeroma obtusum (Dana) (Isopoda). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 58: 233–257

    Google Scholar 

  • Menzies, R. J. (1950). The taxonomy, ecology, and distribution of northern California isopods of the genus Idothea with the description of a new species. Wasmann J. Biol. 8: 155–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Naylor, E. (1955a). The ecological distribution of British species of Idotea (Isopoda). Anim. Ecol. 24: 255–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Naylor, E. (1955b). The life cycle of the isopod Idotea emarginata (Fabricius). Anim. Ecol. 24: 270–281

    Google Scholar 

  • Naylor, E. (1955c). The comparative external morphology and revised taxonomy of the British species of Idotea. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 34: 467–493

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, W. G. (1980). Reproductive patterns of gammaridean amphipods. Sarsia 65: 61–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Salemaa, H. (1978). Geographical variability in the colour polymorphism of Idotea baltica (Isopoda) in the northern Baltic. Hereditas 88: 165–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Salemaa, H. (1979a). Seasonal variability in the colour polymorphism of Idotea baltica (Isopoda) in the northern Baltic. Hereditas 90: 51–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Salemaa, H. (1979b). Ecology of Idotea spp. (Isopoda) in the northern Baltic. Ophelia 18: 133–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Salemaa, H. (1986). Breeding biology and microhabitat utilization of the intertidal isopod Idotea granulosa Rathke, in the Irish Sea. Estuar., cstl Shelf Sci. 22: 335–355

    Google Scholar 

  • Salemaa, H. (1987). Herbivory and microhabitat preferences of Idotea spp. (Isopoda) in the northern Baltic Sea. Ophelia 27: 1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Shafir, A., Field, J. G. (1980). Population dynamics of the isopod Cirolana imposita Barnard in a kelp-bed. Crustaceana 39: 185–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheader, M. (1977). The breeding biology of Idotea pelagica (Isopoda: Valvifera) with notes on the occurrence and biology of its parasite Clypeoniscus hanseni (Isopoda: Epicaridea). J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 57: 659–674

    Google Scholar 

  • Sokal, R. R., Rohlf, F. J. (1969). Biometry. The principles and practice of statistics in biological research. W. H. Freeman & Co., San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Stebbins, T. D. (1988a). Ecology of the commensal isopod Colidotea rostrata (Benedict, 1898) in southern California. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Southern California, Los Angeles

    Google Scholar 

  • Stebbins, T. D. (1988b). Observations and experiments on the natural history and behavior of the commensal isopod Colidotea rostrata (Benedict, 1898) (Isopoda: Idoteidae). J. Crustacean Biol. 8: 539–547

    Google Scholar 

  • Stebbins, T. D. (1988c). The role of sea urchins in mediating fish predation on a commensal isopod (Crustacea: Isopoda). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 124: 97–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Strong, K. W. (1978). Breeding and bionomics of Idotea baltica (Pallas) (Crustacea: Isopoda). Proc. Trans. Nova Scotian Inst. Sci. 28: 217–230

    Google Scholar 

  • Strong, K. W., Daborn, G. R. (1979a). Growth and energy utilisation of the intertidal isopod Idotea baltica (Pallas) (Crustacea: Isopoda). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 41: 101–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Strong, K. W., Daborn, G. R. (1979b). Notes on the ecology and growth of Idotea phosphorea Harger (Crustacea: Isopoda). Proc. Trans. Nova Scotian Inst. Sci. 29: 201–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Tully, O., O'Ceidigh, P. (1986). The ecology of Idotea species (Isopoda) and Gammarus locusta (Amphipoda) on surface driftweed in Galway Bay (West of Ireland). J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 66: 931–942

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Dolah, R. F., Bird, E. (1980). A comparison of reproductive patterns in epifaunal and infaunal gammaridea amphipods. Estuar. cstl mar. Sci. 11: 593–604

    Google Scholar 

  • Wägele, J.-W. (1987). On the reproductive biology of Ceratoserolis trilobitoides (Crustacea: Isopoda): latitudinal variation of fecundity and embryonic development. Polar Biol. 7: 11–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallerstein, B. R., Brusca, R. C. (1982). Fish predation: a preliminary study of its role in the zoogeography and evolution of shallow water idoteid isopods (Crustacea: Isopoda: Idoteidae). J. Biogeogr. 9: 135–150

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Invertebrate Zoology Section, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 90007, Los Angeles, California, USA

    T. D. Stebbins

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 90089, Los Angeles, California, USA

    T. D. Stebbins

  3. Point Loma Biology Laboratory, 4077 North Harbor Drive, 92101, San Diego, California, USA

    T. D. Stebbins

Authors
  1. T. D. Stebbins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by P. C. Schroeder, Pullman

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stebbins, T.D. Population dynamics and reproductive biology of the commensal isopod Colidotea rostrata (Crustacea: Isopoda: Idoteidae). Marine Biology 101, 329–337 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428129

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428129

Keywords

Search

Navigation