Brood Loss and Sperm Limitation in Aratus Pisonii, the Mangrove Tree Crab Austen Walker, Connor Bird, Blaine D
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Brood Loss and Sperm Limitation in Aratus pisonii, the Mangrove Tree Crab Austen Walker, Connor Bird, Blaine D. Griffen Biology Department, Brigham Young University Purpose Results To investigate the possible loss of eggs and potential for sperm limitation in Aratus pisonii, the mangrove tree Clutch Size Throughout Egg Development and Egg development by crab. the Reproductive Period Carapace Width sampling date 0.95 Introduction 0.95 Egg loss can occur at any point during the reproductive period. Several past studies document egg loss across a 1200 variety of crustaceans. The mangrove tree crab is expected to experience high egg loss, due to it’s constant 0.85 0.85 climbing on tree limbs. Egg production and loss provide valuable insight into the reproductive physiology and 600 the mangrove tree crab and its ecology as an important part of the mangrove ecosystem. (Boudreau et al. 2012). /size Clutch 10 0.75 200 This species is also currently expanding it’s range due to climate change, and egg loss will factor into the rate of 0.75 14 16 18 20 22 24 of Proportion developing eggs 150 200 250 300 population growth in northern regions of its expanding range. Secondarily, we also look for evidence of sperm 14 16 18 20 22 24 Proportion of Proportion developing eggs limitation, when there is insufficient sperm to fertilize all eggs produced by the females. If sperm limitation is Carapace width (mm) Carapace width (mm) Julian sampling date occurring, the reproductive potential of a population would be limited, and could hamper its ability to keep pace with environmental changes. Addition, sperm limitation has the potential to change the mating dynamics of Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 decapod crustaceans in a number of ways (Wedell 2002). The circles on this figure are If sperm limitation were The proportion of eggs undeveloped eggs, while the occurring, it would be expected developing declines initially triangle represent developing eggs, that the level of development (P=0.001), but increases again Methods with the triangles becoming larger would be negatively correlated later in the season (P=0.002). with carapace width. This is -Crabs were sampled bi-weekly from four different sites along the Florida coast throughout the reproductive in later stages of development. No This provides some evidence because larger crabs have larger period. The eggs were removed and photographs were taken of 1/10 of the total clutch. correlation can be seen between of sperm limitation, though clutches, and if sperm was a -Eggs from these photos were counted and separated by development stage. level of development and clutch this is only indirect evidence limiting factor, their eggs would -To determine if egg loss was occurring, clutches were compared to determine if more developed clutches were size (P=0.337), showing that no egg (i.e., we did not directly be less likely to be fertilized. smaller than less developed clutches. loss is occurring. This figure also observe seminal reserves). We fund no evidence for this -To determine if sperm limitation was occurring, the proportion of undeveloped eggs was compared across shows that clutch size increases (P=0.897). different sized crabs and throughout the breeding season. with crab size. (P < 0.0001). Conclusions Aratus pisonii does not lose a significant number of eggs during development. Egg loss should therefore not play an important role in limiting population growth. We found limited evidence for sperm limitation, but this should be corroborated with direct evidence from examining seminal storage throughout the reproductive season. Aratus reportedly mates repeatedly throughout the summer. Any sperm limitation may therefore be most readily observed by directly observing Figure 1 (Left) male sperm storage. This is a typical photo that was analyzed. Notice that several undeveloped eggs can be Literature Cited found among the other, more Boudreau, S., & Worm, B.. (2012). Ecological role of large benthic decapods in marine ecosystems: a review. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 469, developed eggs. Red arrows 195–213. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09862 indicate non-developing eggs. Wedell, N., Gage, M. J. G., & Parker, G. A.. (2002). Sperm competition, male prudence and sperm-limited females. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 17(7), 313–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0169-5347(02)02533-8.