Ontogenetic changes in dietary carbon sources and trophic position of two co-occurring horseshoe crab species in southwestern China

As an interface between terrestrial and marine environments, coastal and estuarine areas are particularly prone to various pollution stresses. Identification of sentinel species is, therefore, essential to provide precautionary information on coastal health conditions. Given their significant ecological roles in estuarine ecosystems, horseshoe crabs are a potential species to indicate the general health status of coastal habitats. The present study demonstrated that the changes in haemolymph composition pattern of two Asian juvenile horseshoe crab species (Tachypleus tridentatus and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) are sensitive to reflect heavy metal (lead, nickel and iron) and nutrient (nitrate and ammonia) concentrations of intertidal sediments. In particular, a significant negative correlation was found for the amebocyte viability and ratio of granular–spherical to granular–flattened and degranulated dendritic-like morphological states of amebocytes in juvenile haemolymph with nitrate and lead concentrations respectively. There were also significantly higher concentrations of haemolymph haemocyanin and plasma protein in juvenile C. rotundicauda than in T. tridentatus on the same shore, possibly being related to the difference in foraging habitats of these two horseshoe crab species. Such non-lethal sampling of haemolymph from juvenile horseshoe crabs can be useful for a further development of the monitoring program in assessing potential environmental impacts by anthropogenic activities.

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Phylogenetic Relationship Among Horseshoe Crab Species: Effect of Substitution Models on Phylogenetic Analyses

Systematic Biology ◽

10.1080/10635150050207401 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 87-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Xuhua Xia

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Relationship ◽

Horseshoe Crab ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Crab Species ◽

Substitution Models ◽

Species Effect

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Stable Isotopic Assessment of Site Loyalty and Relationships Between Size and Trophic Position of the Atlantic Horseshoe Crab, Limulus polyphemus, within Cape Cod Estuaries

Biological Bulletin ◽

10.2307/1543281 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 205 (2) ◽

pp. 254-255 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

C. W. O’Connell ◽

S. P. Grady ◽

A. S. Leschen ◽

R. H. Carmichael ◽

I. Valiela

Keyword(s):

Horseshoe Crab ◽

Trophic Position ◽

Limulus Polyphemus ◽

Cape Cod ◽

Stable Isotopic ◽

Atlantic Horseshoe Crab

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Carbon sources and trophic position of the main species of fishes of Baía River, Paraná River floodplain, Brazil

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/s1519-69842003000200013 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 63 (2) ◽

pp. 283-290 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

G. I. Manetta ◽

E. Benedito-Cecilio ◽

M. Martinelli

Keyword(s):

Trophic Position ◽

Carbon Sources ◽

Paraná River ◽

C3 Plants ◽

River Floodplain ◽

Parana River ◽

Main Species ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Iheringichthys Labrosus ◽

Paraná River Floodplain

In order to verify the carbon source and trophic position of the main species of fishes, of the Paraná River floodplain, we analysed the proportion of stable carbon (delta13C) and nitrogen (delta15N) isotopes in muscle of fishes sampled in the rainy season. We analyzed adult individuals of Loricariichthys platymetopon, Schizodon borellii, Leporinus lacustris, Auchenipterus osteomystax, Iheringichthys labrosus, Leporinus friderici, and Serrasalmus marginatus. These data were compared with the results obtained by the analyzing stomach contents. The primary producers found in the Baía River were the C3 plants (riparian vegetation, macrophytes, periphyton, and phytoplankton) and the C4 plants (macrophytes). The results of the contribution analysis revealed that the carbon used by the species was derived from C3 plants. According to the trophic position estimates (diet and delta15N), the species primarily consumed Loricariichthys platymetopon, Schizodon borellii, Leporinus lacustris, and Leporinus friderici and, secondarily Auchenipterus osteomystax, Iheringichthys labrosus, and Serrasalmus marginatus. There was no significant difference between the two methods utilized.

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Classification and characterization of hemocytes from two Asian horseshoe crab species Tachypleus tridentatus and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-43630-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Fangli Wu ◽

Zhe Xie ◽

Mingyan Yan ◽

Qiongzhen Li ◽

Jie Song ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Horseshoe Crab ◽

Crab Species ◽

Tachypleus Tridentatus

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The trophic role of Octopus insularis at a pristine tropical atoll in southwest Atlantic: a potential keystone predator?

Bulletin of Marine Science ◽

10.5343/bms.2019.0052 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Renato Junqueira de Souza Dantas ◽

Tatiana Silva Leite ◽

Cristiano Queiroz de Albuquerque

Keyword(s):

Food Web ◽

Trophic Position ◽

Feeding Strategy ◽

Isotope Analysis ◽

Carbon Sources ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Isotopic Niche ◽

Southwest Atlantic ◽

Trophic Role

In the present study, we evaluated the trophic role of Octopus insularis Leite and Haimovici, 2008 in the food web of Rocas Atoll, a preserved insular territory in the southwest Atlantic. Using stable isotope analysis of C and N, we showed that the local trophic web comprises at least four trophic levels, where the octopus presents d13C values from -12.1 to -6.1‰, d15N values from 6.4 to 11.0‰ and occupies a trophic position (TP) between the second and third trophic levels (mean ± SD TPadditive = 3.08 ± 0.36; TPBayesian = 3.12 ± 0.17). Among other benthic/reef-associated consumers, this cephalopod stood out for its much wider isotopic niche (SEAB = 4.7890), pointing to a diet diversified in carbon sources, but focused on prey in lower TPs. Time-minimizing feeding strategy seemed almost permanent throughout the life cycle, given the great niche overlap between small and large octopuses (large: SEAB = 4.59, small: SEAB = 4.03) and their very similar trophic positions (TPadditive/TPBayesian: large = 3.27/3.26; small = 2.89/2.99). Also, as a prey, O. insularis composed 16%-24% of the diet of some benthic/demersal predators. Overall, exerting great predatory pressure on bottom-associated organisms and serving as a relevant food source for top and mesopredators, O. insularis represented a top consumer of the benthic portion of the food web and an important link between its benthic and demersal strata with potential for keystone species.

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Morphological variation in the Pennsylvanian horseshoe crab Euproops danae (Meek & Worthen, 1865) (Xiphosurida, Euproopidae) from the lower Mercer Shale, Windber, Pennsylvania, USA

Journal of Crustacean Biology ◽

10.1093/jcbiol/ruz030 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 39 (4) ◽

pp. 396-406 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jessica N Tashman ◽

Rodney M Feldmann ◽

Carrie E Schweitzer

Keyword(s):

Developmental Stage ◽

Morphological Variation ◽

Horseshoe Crab ◽

Ontogenetic Changes ◽

Strip Mine ◽

First Time

Abstract Examination of 36 specimens of the Pennsylvanian horseshoe crab Euproops danae (Meek & Worthen, 1865) from a previously unreported occurrence in the lower Mercer Shale exposed in an abandoned strip mine south from Windber, Pennsylvania, USA, document ontogenetic changes in prosomal morphology. Intercardiophthalmic transverse bars become less pronounced as ophthalmic spines become longer in larger, older specimens through approximately seven instar stages. It remains unclear if the presence or absence of ophthalmic spines is taphonomic, regardless of developmental stage. The holotype of E. danae is illustrated photographically for the first time.

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