Gulf and Caribbean Research Volume 13 Issue 1 January 2001 Effects of Salinity on Development in the Ghost Shrimp Callichirus islagrande and Two Populations of C. major (Crustacea: Decapoda: Thalassinidea) K.M. Strasser University of Louisiana-Lafayette D.L. Felder University of Louisiana-Lafayette Follow this and additional works at: https://aquila.usm.edu/gcr Part of the Marine Biology Commons Recommended Citation Strasser, K. and D. Felder. 2001. Effects of Salinity on Development in the Ghost Shrimp Callichirus islagrande and Two Populations of C. major (Crustacea: Decapoda: Thalassinidea). Gulf and Caribbean Research 13 (1): 1-10. Retrieved from https://aquila.usm.edu/gcr/vol13/iss1/1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18785/gcr.1301.01 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Gulf and Caribbean Research by an authorized editor of The Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Gulf and Caribbean Research Vol. 13, 1–10, 2001 Manuscript received January 27, 2000; accepted June 30, 2000 EFFECTS OF SALINITY ON DEVELOPMENT IN THE GHOST SHRIMP CALLICHIRUS ISLAGRANDE AND TWO POPULATIONS OF C. MAJOR (CRUSTACEA: DECAPODA: THALASSINIDEA) K. M. Strasser1,2 and D. L. Felder1 1Department of Biology, University of Louisiana - Lafayette, P.O. Box 42451, Lafayette, LA 70504-2451, USA, Phone: 337-482-5403, Fax: 337-482-5834, E-mail: [email protected] 2Present address (KMS): Department of Biology, University of Tampa, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, FL 33606-1490, USA, Phone: 813-253-3333 ext. 3320, Fax: 813-258-7881, E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT Salinity (S) was abruptly decreased from 35‰ to 25‰ at either the 4th zoeal (ZIV) or decapodid stage (D) in Callichirus islagrande (Schmitt) and 2 populations of C. major (Say). Other larvae were maintained at stable 35‰ or 25‰ S throughout development. In C. islagrande, duration of ZIV did not vary among the stable salinities. However, a decrease of salinity at ZIV reduced the duration of this stage, suggesting that the S decrease could be a possible cue for acceleration of larval development. In the Gulf population of C. major duration of ZIV was significantly longer at stable 35‰ S than at stable 25‰ S; the latter equaled duration for larvae transferred from 35 to 25‰ S at ZIV. Development in the Florida Atlantic population of C. major was variable but similar at stable 35 and 25‰ S. In 2 of 3 such comparisons, larvae reared at a stable 35‰ S more often molted to a 5th zoeal stage and became deformed at D than those reared at a stable 25‰ S . Callichirus islagrande and the Gulf population of C. major, both of which inhabit lower salinity waters on the Louisiana coast, were more similar in larval responses to salinity than were the 2 populations of C. major. Adult habitat was a better indicator of larval response to salinity than was phylogenetic proximity. INTRODUCTION estuarine-adapted 4th zoeal stage (Costlow et al. 1960); while the decapodid withstands a range of salinities, In decapod larvae, salinity (S) may impact rate of survival of the 4th zoeal stage is restricted to estuarine development (Vinuesa et al. 1985, Sulkin and Van salinities. Slight to moderate decreases in S can acceler- Heukelem 1986, Gonçalves et al. 1995), size (Johns ate the rate of zoeal development as in Lithodes antarticus 1981), and behavior (O’Connor and Epifanio 1985, Jacquinot (Vinuesa et al. 1985) and Armases miersii Tankersley et al. 1995). Previous studies examined the (Rathbun) (Schuh and Diesel 1995); retard development effect of decreased S on decapodids to determine if such as in Armases cinereum (Bosc) (Costlow et al. 1960), a change serves as a cue for settlement (O’Connor and Panopeus herbstii Milne-Edwards (Costlow et al. 1962), Epifanio 1985, Anger 1991, Forward et al. 1994, Wolcott Menippe mercenaria (Say) (Ong and Costlow 1970), and Devries 1994). A decrease in S may be important to Palaemonetes vulgaris (Say) (Sandifer 1973), Uca species that pass through zoeal stages offshore and sub- pugnax (Smith) (O’Connor and Epifanio 1985), Armases sequently settle as decapodids (=megalopae) in estuar- angustipes (Dana) (Anger et al. 1990), Eriocheir sinensis ies. In Uca pugnax (Smith), duration of the decapodid H. Milne-Edwards (Anger 1991), and Carcinus maenas stage was significantly shorter at 20‰ S than at 30‰ S L. (Anger et al. 1998); or have no obvious effect as in (O’Connor and Epifanio 1985). While a decrease in S Palaemonetes vulgaris (Say) (Knowlton 1965), Cancer from 35 to 26‰ was not found to decrease significantly irroratus Say (Johns 1981), Necora puber (L) (Mene et the duration of the decapodid stage of Callinectes sapidus al. 1991), and Menippe mercenaria (Say) (Brown et al. (Rathbun) (Wolcott and Devries 1994), a decrease from 1992). In some species, development is shortest at inter- 35 to 18‰ S significantly accelerated molting (Forward mediate salinities tested and somewhat retarded at ex- et al. 1994). Larvae of Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne- tremes as in Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Gould) (Costlow Edwards reared at 32‰ S accelerated molting when et al. 1966, Gonçalves et al. 1995), and Cardisoma moved to 20‰ S at the decapodid stage (Anger 1991). guanhumi Latreille (Costlow and Bookhout 1968). In However, maintaining decapodids at 32‰ S or moving Macrobrachium nipponense (De Haan) response of lar- them from 32 to 10‰ S increased the duration of the vae to decreased S was shown to vary between popula- decapodid stage. tions (Ogasawara et al. 1979). However, most studies to Several studies have also examined the effect of S on date have examined the effect of S by maintaining larvae the zoeal phase of development. Success of larval devel- at a constant S throughout development. opment in Armases cinereum (Bosc) depends on an 1 STRASSER AND FELDER In the genus Callichirus, larvae typically pass through tion of C. major, and from a sand flat on the north side of 4 or 5 pelagic zoeal stages (ZI to ZV) before molting to Sebastian Inlet (Florida; 27°51.7NN; 80°26.8NW) in May, the decapodid stage (D) (Strasser and Felder 1999a). June, and July, 1997 for the Florida Atlantic population Although D is usually thought to be receptive to settle- of C. major. Ovigerous females were maintained in 20- ment stimuli, previous studies have shown that settle- cm diameter finger bowls with daily water changes until ment and development of Callichirus major (Say) are eggs hatched. Animals from the Gulf of Mexico were affected by cues received at the 4th zoeal stage (ZIV). kept at 25‰ S, while those from the Florida Atlantic The Gulf of Mexico and Florida Atlantic populations of population of C. major were maintained at 35‰ S to C. major have been shown to be genetically distinct approximate the S experienced in the natural habitat. (Staton and Felder 1995), have different intertidal distri- Seawater was taken from well offshore Louisiana and butions (Felder and Griffis 1994), have morphological Florida, filtered through a 30-µm mesh, and aerated differences in their larvae (Strasser and Felder 1999a), before use. Seawater at 25‰ S was made by diluting and respond differently to settlement stimuli (Strasser 35‰ S seawater with deionized water. and Felder 1999b). While ZIV plays an important role in Upon hatching, ZI larvae were moved to individual settlement of both populations of C. major, this stage of compartments of a plastic tray and maintained at 27° C, C. islagrande (Schmitt) does not appear to respond to on a 12 h light:12 h dark cycle, in filtered seawater of 35 sand and adult-conditioned water (Strasser and Felder or 25‰ S. Larvae (ZI to ZV) and decapodids were reared 1998, 1999b). The Florida Atlantic population of C. under 1 of 4 S protocols: a) 35‰ S throughout develop- major inhabits waters of relatively constant 35‰ S. In ment to the first juvenile stage (J1), b) 35‰ S and moved contrast, the Gulf of Mexico endemic C. islagrande and to 25‰ S after the molt to ZIV, c) 35‰ S and moved to the Gulf of Mexico population of C. major experience 25‰ S after the molt to D, d) 25‰ S throughout devel- lower salinities which may range from 12-30‰ (Felder opment to J1 (Figure 1). Once each day, animals were and Griffis 1994). examined visually to assess their stage of development, The present study was conducted to determine the moved to containers with new seawater, and fed freshly effect of low (25‰) and high (35‰) salinities on num- hatched Artemia nauplii (Great Salt Lake). For larvae bers of instars and rates of development. The study placed in seawater that differed from S at hatching, the S included comparisons of decreased S effects during ZIV was increased or decreased slowly 3 to 4 h before the and D to determine whether S differentially accelerated experiment was initiated. In treatments with a decrease molting. in S at ZIV or D (b and c), larvae were moved directly from 35 to 25‰ S and thus experienced an immediate MATERIALS AND METHODS shift in S. Each experiment began with 40 ZI larvae per treatment and all larvae remained isolated for the dura- Experimental Protocol tion of the experiment. Each experiment, performed with Ovigerous females were collected by previously larvae from the clutch of a single female, was repeated described methods (Felder 1978) from the bayward side for a total of 2 clutches with both C. islagrande and the of a barrier island (Isles Dernieres, LA; 29°03.8NN; Gulf of Mexico population of C. major and 3 clutches 90°39.5NW) in March, April, August, and September with the Florida Atlantic population of C.