Infestation rate and impacts of Epipenaeon ingens on growth and reproduction of brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus)

In this study, 515 Farfantepenaeus aztecus specimens were investigated in the Gulf of Antalya and 304 (59,02%) specimens (167 females and 137 males) infested with Bopyrid isopod parasite Epipenaeon ingens were found. In this study, we aimed to define the rate of infestation and its impact on survival rate and growth rate. Relationship of length- weight and condition factor values were lower in infested specimens compared to non-infested ones. While gonadal development was observed in different stages of non-infested female specimens, no gonadal development was observed in any infested specimens. Moreover, darker color and harder shell structure were observed in parasitized shrimps. During this research, infestation onto P. semisulcatus and P. kerathurus had been seen rarely.Keywords: Gulf of Antalya; Epipenaeon ingens, Farfantepenaeus aztecus; growth; reproduction

The occurrence of the Atlantic penaeid prawn Farfantepenaeus aztecus (Ives, 1891) in the Thermaikos Gulf (Aegean Sea, eastern Mediterranean): considerations on the potential establishment and impact on the autochthonous Melicertus kerathurus (Forskål, 1775)

The penaeid prawn Farfantepenaeus aztecus (Ives, 1891), of western Atlantic origin, has been recently recorded in a lagoonal environment in the Thermaikos Gulf (North Aegean Sea) increasing the number of alien decapods in the Aegean Sea to 29. The present work reports the finding of F. aztecus in offshore waters on the trawling ground of the Thermaikos Gulf. The presence of this alien species in the area is probably due to ships’ ballast water or to expansion northward from the Levantine Sea where it was recently reported. The life cycle characteristics and several properties of the Atlantic species along with the abiotic and biotic factors of the Thermaikos indicate that the species will eventually be established successfully in the gulf. However, the potential establishment of F. aztecus in the Thermaikos Gulf raises concerns over the fate of the autochthonous penaeid prawn Melicertus kerathurus (Forskål, 1775) in the North Aegean Sea.