The Intertidal Burrowing Crab Neohelice (=Chasmagnathus) granulata Positively Affects Foraging of Rodents in South Western Atlantic Salt Marshes

2008 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 920-930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro D. Canepuccia ◽  
Maria S. Fanjul ◽  
Eugenia Fanjul ◽  
Florencia Botto ◽  
Oscar O. Iribarne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marshes ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Chasmagnathus Granulata ◽  
Burrowing Crab

Epibiosis on eggs and brooding care in the burrowing crab Chasmagnathus granulatus (Brachyura:Varunidae): comparison between mudflats and salt marshes

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 893-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola V. Silva ◽  
Tomás A. Luppi ◽  
Eduardo D. Spivak
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marsh ◽  
Filamentous Fungi ◽  
Salt Marshes ◽  
Maternal Care ◽  
Spartina Densiflora ◽  
Incubation Chamber ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Key Species ◽  
Burrowing Crab ◽  
Chasmagnathus Granulatus

Chasmagnathus granulatus is a semiterrestrial intertidal burrowing crab that inhabits both the unvegetated mudflats and the cordgrass (Spartina densiflora) salt marshes in Mar Chiquita Lagoon (Argentina), where it is considered the ecologically key species. The mass of C. granulatus eggs incubated by females is colonized by epibiotic micro-organisms and accumulates detritus. The type of epibionts that use eggs as a substrate, the infestation degree, the maternal care behaviour and the protection of the incubation chamber were compared between females living on mudflats and on Spartina-dominated areas. In both places, the epibiosis by bacteria and filamentous fungi and peritrichid colonial ciliate was significantly higher in the periphery than in the centre of the brood mass. The accumulation of detritus was higher in the periphery in mudflat females but not in salt marsh females. Moreover, the level of detritus was significantly higher in mudflat than in salt marsh females only in the periphery of the brood. The infestation level of bacteria and fungi, and peritrichids, increased throughout the embryonic development only in mudflat females. The periphery of the brood mass was significantly more contaminated in mudflat than in marsh females, while the central region of the brood mass did not differ between habitats. The pleopods were significantly more contaminated by bacteria and filamentous fungi and peritrichid colonial ciliates in premoult females than in postmoult females, independently from the collection site. The percentage of females with abnormal embryos was significantly higher in mudflats (26.7%) than in marshes (12.3%). Females with late embryos spent more time flapping the abdomen and probing the embryos with the chela. Non-ovigerous females did not perform specific maternal care activities. The volume of brood mass both in early or late stage of development is greater than that of the incubation chamber and, consequently, peripheral embryos are more exposed.

scholarly journals Survival and osmoregulation of the purple marsh crab (Sesarma reticulatum) at varying salinity and pH

2017 ◽  
Vol 95 (12) ◽  
pp. 985-989 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.A. Shaughnessy ◽  
E.C. Anderson ◽  
M. Kasparian ◽  
J.M. LaMontagne ◽  
J.S. Bystriansky
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Salt Marshes ◽  
Trophic Cascade ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Fundamental Niche ◽  
Ion Concentrations ◽  
Physiological Tolerance ◽  
Physiological Limits ◽  
Top Predators ◽  
Sesarma Reticulatum

Overfishing of top predators along the western Atlantic coastline has led to a trophic cascade in salt marshes, with increases in herbivorous purple marsh crab (Sesarma reticulatum (Say, 1817)) abundances in North American estuaries leading to overgrazing of cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora Loisel.) and shoreline erosion. To evaluate potential physiological limits on the range of S. reticulatum within an estuary, we evaluated survival and physiological tolerance of S. reticulatum from the Ashepoo–Combhee–Edisto (ACE) River Basin in South Carolina, USA, to combinations of salinity (5‰ and 30‰) and pH (pH 6.6, 7.6, and 8.6) challenges, representative of estuarine extremes. Survival, haemolymph ion concentrations, and gill Na+,K+-ATPase (NKA) and vacuolar-type H+-ATPase (VHA) activity were measured after a 48 h exposure to each experimental condition. Survival was nearly 100% and osmoregulatory control was maintained across estuarine salinity and pH ranges. Sesarma reticulatum appeared to be robust to all potential combinations of salinity and pH stressors examined in this study, and therefore are likely unrestricted in their fundamental niche based on these stressors throughout an estuary.

Differential coloration patterns in the intertidal crab Neohelice (=Chasmagnathus) granulata

2010 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 1041-1047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agustina Méndez Casariego ◽  
Tomás Luppi ◽  
Oscar Iribarne
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marshes ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Spatial Segregation ◽  
Body Coloration ◽  
Body Regions ◽  
Intertidal Crab ◽  
Coloration Pattern ◽  
Chasmagnathus Granulata ◽  
Colour Changes ◽  
Coloration Patterns

Many crustaceans with spatial segregation may present differential body coloration depending on the habitat they inhabit. Since crustaceans are unable to synthesize carotenoids, individuals must acquire them from their diet, so diet changes can modify individual coloration. The burrowing crab Neohelice (=Chasmagnathus) granulata inhabits the intertidal, from the uppermost parts of salt marshes to the lowest mudflat zones with a spatial segregation of different size-classes. They are primarily deposit feeders in mud flats and herbivorous–detritivorous in the salt marsh. We analysed the effect of intermoult length on the carapace colour of N. granulata, and the changes in carapace colour with crab size and zone. Crab colour varied between unvegetated and vegetated areas. Some of these differences were in part caused by colour changes related to crab size. Larger crabs show less intensive colours, and given that they inhabit the upper part of the intertidal a differential coloration pattern occurred between zones. In field experiments intermoult duration affected crab colour and some body regions analysed showed differences between zones unrelated to size.

Zonation of shrubs in western Atlantic salt marshes

Oecologia ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 126 (4) ◽  
pp. 587-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven C. Pennings ◽  
Darrin J. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marshes ◽  
Western Atlantic

Grazer facilitation of fungal infection and the control of plant growth in south-western Atlantic salt marshes

2009 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
pp. 781-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Daleo ◽  
Brian Silliman ◽  
Juan Alberti ◽  
Mauricio Escapa ◽  
Alejandro Canepuccia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Fungal Infection ◽  
Salt Marshes ◽  
Western Atlantic

Positive interactions of the smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora on the mud snail Heleobia australis, in South Western Atlantic salt marshes

2007 ◽  
Vol 353 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro D. Canepuccia ◽  
Mauricio Escapa ◽  
Pedro Daleo ◽  
Juan Alberti ◽  
Florencia Botto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spartina Alterniflora ◽  
Salt Marshes ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Smooth Cordgrass ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Mud Snail

scholarly journals Effects of the burrowing crab Chasmagnathus granulata (Dana) on meiofauna of estuarine intertidal habitats of Patos Lagoon, Southern Brazil

2005 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Cruz Rosa ◽  
Carlos Emilio Bemvenuti
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Salt Marsh ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Patos Lagoon ◽  
Chasmagnathus Granulata ◽  
Meiofauna Community ◽  
Intertidal Habitats ◽  
Crab Chasmagnathus Granulata ◽  
Burrowing Crab

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the burrowing crab Chasmagnathus granulata on meiofauna at three intertidal habitats across a tidal exposure gradient (i.e., an emerged salt marsh, an emerged mudflat and a submerged mudflat) in an estuarine embayment of Patos Lagoon, Southern Brazil. Meiofauna community was dominated by nematodes and ostracods, following by copepods and turbellarians. Densities of all studied organisms varied significantly among habitats. Highest values were observed in submerged mudflat while lower in salt marsh. Nematodes were unaffected by crab in either habitat, whereas ostracod, copepod and turbellarian densities were significantly lower in disturbed than control areas in both mudflat habitats. Any meiofaunal group was affected in salt marsh, probably due to a less intense disturbance. The results showed that the burrowing crab C. granulata could play an important role on meiofauna community structure in estuarine intertidal habitats of Patos Lagoon, because crab disturbance seemed to affect mainly surface populations, especially in mudflat. However, the meiofauna response to crab disturbance was variable among habitats depending of the intensity and the frequency of the disturbance.

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