INVESTIGADORES
LUPPI tomas Atilio
artículos
Título:
Experimental studies of predation and cannibalism in recruits of Chasmagnathus granulata and Cyrtograpsus angulatus (Brachyura: Grapsidae).
Autor/es:
LUPPI TOMAS; SPIVAK EDUARDO; ANGER KLAUS
Revista:
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
Referencias:
Año: 2001 p. 29 - 48
ISSN:
0022-0981
Resumen:
The grapsid crabs Chasmagnathus granulata and Cyrtograpsus angulatus are considered as
key species within the benthic communities of estuaries and brackish coastal lagoons in the
southwestern Atlantic region. In controlled laboratory experiments, we studied the intensity of
interspecific predation as well as intra- and intercohort cannibalism in setllers in relation to refuge
availability, predator characteristicsspecies, size, sex, nutritional state., and the presence or
absence of an alternative food sourceArtemia nauplii.. In both species, the intensity of
intracohort cannibalism among recently settled crabsinstars I and II, AsettlersB.was low, with ca.
5% mortality during 48 h experimental observation periods. Larger juveniles and adults of both
species, by contrast, preyed heavily on the settlers. Predation was significantly reduced when
refuges were available for the settlers. Hunger of the predators enhanced in general the predation
rate. In the presence of alternative food, the consumption of settlers was significantly reduced. InChasmagnathus granulata and Cyrtograpsus angulatus are considered as
key species within the benthic communities of estuaries and brackish coastal lagoons in the
southwestern Atlantic region. In controlled laboratory experiments, we studied the intensity of
interspecific predation as well as intra- and intercohort cannibalism in setllers in relation to refuge
availability, predator characteristicsspecies, size, sex, nutritional state., and the presence or
absence of an alternative food sourceArtemia nauplii.. In both species, the intensity of
intracohort cannibalism among recently settled crabsinstars I and II, AsettlersB.was low, with ca.
5% mortality during 48 h experimental observation periods. Larger juveniles and adults of both
species, by contrast, preyed heavily on the settlers. Predation was significantly reduced when
refuges were available for the settlers. Hunger of the predators enhanced in general the predation
rate. In the presence of alternative food, the consumption of settlers was significantly reduced. Inspecies, size, sex, nutritional state., and the presence or
absence of an alternative food sourceArtemia nauplii.. In both species, the intensity of
intracohort cannibalism among recently settled crabsinstars I and II, AsettlersB.was low, with ca.
5% mortality during 48 h experimental observation periods. Larger juveniles and adults of both
species, by contrast, preyed heavily on the settlers. Predation was significantly reduced when
refuges were available for the settlers. Hunger of the predators enhanced in general the predation
rate. In the presence of alternative food, the consumption of settlers was significantly reduced. InArtemia nauplii.. In both species, the intensity of
intracohort cannibalism among recently settled crabsinstars I and II, AsettlersB.was low, with ca.
5% mortality during 48 h experimental observation periods. Larger juveniles and adults of both
species, by contrast, preyed heavily on the settlers. Predation was significantly reduced when
refuges were available for the settlers. Hunger of the predators enhanced in general the predation
rate. In the presence of alternative food, the consumption of settlers was significantly reduced. Ininstars I and II, AsettlersB.was low, with ca.
5% mortality during 48 h experimental observation periods. Larger juveniles and adults of both
species, by contrast, preyed heavily on the settlers. Predation was significantly reduced when
refuges were available for the settlers. Hunger of the predators enhanced in general the predation
rate. In the presence of alternative food, the consumption of settlers was significantly reduced. In
C. granulata, adult females ate more settlers than the males, probably as a consequence of
differences in the morphometric traits of their chelae. Cannibalism and predation by juvenile and
adult crabs may play an important role in the regulation of recruitment success for both species
and hence, in the structure of estuarine benthic communities. q2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All
rights reserved., adult females ate more settlers than the males, probably as a consequence of
differences in the morphometric traits of their chelae. Cannibalism and predation by juvenile and
adult crabs may play an important role in the regulation of recruitment success for both species
and hence, in the structure of estuarine benthic communities. q2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All
rights reserved.q2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All
rights reserved.