Early larval development in the laboratory of Alpheus estuariensis (Crustacea: Caridea) from the Amazon Region

Os estágios iniciais de Alpheus estuariensis (Crustacea: Caridea) da Região Amazônica, cultivado em laboratório

BIOLOGY

Early larval development in the laboratory of Alpheus estuariensis (Crustacea: Caridea) from the Amazon Region

Os estágios iniciais de Alpheus estuariensis (Crustacea: Caridea) da Região Amazônica, cultivado em laboratório

Marcus A. B. Pires; Fernando A. Abrunhosa; Cristiana R. Maciel

Campus Universitário de Bragança, Universidade Federal do Pará. Alameda Leandro Ribeiro, Aldeia, 68600-000 Bragança, Pará, Brasil.E-mail: [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]

ABSTRACT

Here we describe and illustrate in detail four early zoeal stages of Alpheus estuariensis Christoffersen, 1984 from larvae reared in the laboratory. Two ovigerous females were collected in the tidal creek of the Bragança estuary, state of Pará, northeastern Brazil. After hatching, the larvae were placed in small containers (with 10 larvae in each). Females were deposited in the Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi (MPEG 0803) and the larvae of each larval stage in the Zoological Museum of São Paulo University (MUSP18452). Ten larvae and exuviae were dissected with fine needles under an ocular microscope. Morphological comparisons with previous studies on larval development of the Alpheus species are briefly discussed.

Key Words: Alpheidae; larval development; morphology.

RESUMO

O presente estudo descreve e ilustra em detalhes os quatro primeiros estágios de Alpheus estuariensis Christoffersen, 1984 a partir de larvas cultivadas em laboratório. Duas fêmeas ovígeras foram coletadas no canal de maré do estuário de Bragança, estado do Pará, nordeste do Brasil. Após a eclosão, as larvas foram colocadas em pequenos recipientes (com 10 larvas em cada). As fêmeas foram depositadas no Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi (MPEG 0803) e as larvas de cada estágio larval no Museu zoológico da Universidade de São Paulo (MUSP18452). Foram dissecadas 10 larvas e exúvias com finas agulhas sob um microscópio ocular. Comparações morfológicas com outros estudos reportados sobre o desenvolvimento larval de espécies de Alpheus são brevemente discutidas.

Palavras-Chave: Alpheidae; desenvolvimento larval; morfologia.

Twenty-three species of snapping shrimp in Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 are known from Brazilian waters (CHRISTOFFERSEN 1998). Among these species, four are restricted to estuaries: Alpheusestuariensis Christoffersen, 1984, A.chacei Carvalho, 1979, A.pontederiae Rochebrune, 1883 and A.heterochaelis Say, 1818 (CHRISTOFFERSEN 1984).

Alpheusestuariensis is often associated with hard structures, such as stones, oysters or mangrove roots, or with extremely soft mud, characteristic of water run-off in mangroves (CHRISTOFFERSEN 1984). This species has been recorded from Ceará to Paraná (CHRISTOFFERSEN 1984, 1998). While Alpheidae larvae often comprise a significant portion of inshore meroplankton, larval descriptions within this family are poorly known (KNOWLTON 1973, YANG 2003, YANG etal. 2003, BARTILOTTI etal. 2005). In Brazil, among those species recorded by CHRISTOFFERSEN (1998), GUTERRES etal. (2005) and MOSSOLIN etal. (2006) some or all larval stages were described for A.armillatus H. Milne-Edwards, 1837 (as A.heterochaelis) by BROOKS & HERRICK (1892),

A.normanni Kingsley, 1878 by BROOKS & HERRICK (1892), A.macrocheles (Hailstone, 1835) by LEBOUR (1932) and A.heterochaelisby KNOWLTON (1973) and GROSS & KNOWLTON (1999), as described by YANG & KIM (1996, 1999). Alpheusheterochaelis was unique in that complete development of an Alpheus in laboratory was described (YANG & KIM 1996).

Here we describe and illustrate in detail the early zoeal stages of A. estuariensis. We also compare these stages with those of other congeneric species.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Two ovigerous females of A. estuariensis (carapace length 10.45 and 10.61 mm) were caught with a dip net in the Furo Grande tidal creek in the Bragança estuary, state of Pará, northeastern Brazil (0º50'25.3"S, 46º38'21.7"W). In the laboratory, the females were kept in separate 1 l containers in filtered (5 μ) marine water (35‰), with constant aeration, until the eggs hatched. After hatching, the larvae were placed in small containers (polyethylene, 150 ml, 10 larvae in each). Females were deposited in the Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi (MPEG 0803) and the larvae of each larval stage in the Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo (MUSP18452).

Temperature of the culture was maintained at 28ºC (±1.5) and pH was kept at 8.1 (±1.0). Every two days, the larvae were transferred to new containers. Microalgae Thalassiosira sp. was provided daily at a density of 4x10⁴/ml. Larvae were fed with rotifers (Brachionus sp., 200 ind.ml) and Artemia nauplii (8-10 ind.ml).

At least 10 larvae and exuviae from each larval stage were preserved in alcohol 70% and subsequently immersed in glycerol+ethanol 70% solution (1:1). Samples were dissected using fine needles under an ocular microscope. Carapace length was measured from the tip of the rostrum to the posterior margin of the telson. Carapace length is the distance between the orbital margin to the posterior portion of the carapace.

The terminology used here follows KNOWLTON (1973), YANG & KIM (1996, 1998, 1999, 2002) and YANG etal. (2003).

RESULTS

Larvae passed through four zoeal stages in four days (at a rate of one stage per day), when they reached zoea IV. All larvae survived to the moult of stage zoea IV, but died on the 5^th day of culture. We describe the first zoeal stage in detail, and subsequent stages are described as they differ from zoel I.

Zoea I

Carapace length: 2.81 mm (2.7-3.0 mm). Carapace (Fig. 1): Eyes sessile; rostrum absent; pterygostomian spines present. Antennule (Fig. 5): unsegmented, with long inner plumose flagellum; outer flagellum with four aesthetascs and 1 short plumose seta. Antenna (Fig. 6): peduncle unsegmented; endopod with 1 long plumose seta and 1 small spine on apex; exopod 4-segmented distally with 9+2 plumose setae. Maxillule (Fig. 7): endopod unsegmented with 1 small terminal seta; basal endite with two stout spines; coxal endite with three distal setae. Maxilla (Fig. 8): scaphognathite with five plumose setae; basal and coxal endites similar, each endite with proximal and distal lobes fused bearing 2 and two plumose setae, respectively. Maxilliped 1 (Fig. 9): protopod lacking setae; endopod short, unsegmented, with a long terminal spine; exopod longer than endopod with 2+2 natatory setae. Maxilliped 2 (Fig. 10): protopod with two simple setae; endopod 4-segmented with setal formula 1-0-1-2; exopod with 2+2+2 natatory setae. Maxilliped 3 (Fig. 11): protopod lacking setae; endopod slightly longer than exopod and 4-segmented, with setal formula 0+0+0+3; exopod with 2+2+2 natatory setae. Pereiopod 1-5 (Fig. 12): Pereipods 1-5 biramous, undeveloped, lacking setae. Abdomen (Fig. 1): 6-segmented, 6^th segment fused with telson. Telson (Fig. 13): triangular, posterior margin almost straight with rounded edges bearing 14 (7+7) plumose setae.

Zoea II

Carapace length: 3.18 mm (3.15-3.20 mm). Carapace (Fig. 2): eyes stalked; rostrum short, untoothed. Antennule (Fig. 14): peduncle 2-segmented, proximal segment with two distal setae, distal segment with one plumose seta; outer flagellum with four aesthetascs. Antenna (Fig. 15): basal segment with 1 spine; exopod with 9+2 plumose setae; endopod with one long plumose seta and one spine on the apex. Maxillule (Fig. 16): endopod with one plumose seta on the apex; coxal endite with two distal plumose setae. Maxilla (Fig. 17): scaphognathite 6 with plumose setae; basal and coxal endites with proximal and distal lobes fused, coxal endite with four setae, basal endite with three setae. Maxilliped 1 (Fig. 18): protopod with four simple setae; endopod unsegmented with setal formula 1+2 setae. Maxilliped 2 and 3 (Figs 19 and 20): similar to the previous stage. Pereiopod 1-5 (Fig. 21): pereiopods 1-similar to previous stage with exopods of pereiopods 1, 2 and 5 with undeveloped natatory setae. Abdomen (Fig. 2): unchanged. Telson (Fig. 22): as previous stage with addition of two small non-plumose median spines.

Zoea III

Carapace length: 3.42 mm (3.35-3.5 mm). Carapace (Fig. 3): unchanged. Antennule (Fig. 23): peduncle 2-segmented, proximal and distal segments with two and three long plumose setae, respectively. Antenna (Fig. 24): exopod with 11+1 plumose setae. Maxillule (Fig. 25): coxal endite with four setae. Maxilla (Fig. 26): scaphognathite with five plumose setae. Maxilliped 1 (Fig. 27): protopod with five simple setae. Maxilliped II (Fig. 28): unchanged. Maxilliped III (Fig. 29): unchanged. Pereiopod 1 (Fig. 30): well developed; endopod 4-segmented, distal segment ending with a spine; exopod developed with 2-2-2 natatory setae. Pereiopod 2 (Fig. 31): endopod undeveloped; exopod developed with 2-2-2 natatory setae. Pereiopods 3-4 (Figs 32 and 33). bud, biramous. Pereiopod 5 (Fig. 34): endopod well-developed, 4-segmented with setal formula 0-0-1-1 ending with a elongate spine. Abdomen (Fig. 3): 6^th segment articulated with telson. Telson (Fig. 35): margin posterior with seven pair of setae, an additional pair of small spines on lateral margin; exopod with 6 plumose setae.

Zoea IV

Carapace length: 3.83 mm (3.75-4.0 mm). Carapace (Fig. 4): unchanged. Antennule (Fig. 36): peduncle 2-segmented, proximal and distal segments with five and four long plumose setae, respectively; outer flagellum with two aesthetascs and one small seta. Antenna (Fig. 37): endopod with two setae on apex; exopod with 11+1 plumose setae and two small spines on outer margin. Maxillule (Fig. 38): unchanged, from previous stage. Maxilla (Fig. 39): scaphognathite with seven plumose setae; coxal endite with three setae, basal endite three and four setae on the proximal and distal lobes, respectively. Maxilliped 1 (Fig. 40): endopod 2+1 distal setae on apex. Maxilliped 2 and 3 (Figs 41 and 42): unchanged. Pereiopod 1 (Fig. 43): endopod developed, 4-segmented, with setal formula 0-0-2-2 setae; exopod with 2-2-2 natatory setae. Pereiopod 2-4 (Figs 44-46): endopod undeveloped; exopod developed with 2-2-2 natatory setae. Pereiopod 5 (Fig. 47): unchanged. Abdomen (Fig. 4): unchanged. Telson (Fig. 48): narrower than previous stage with five pairs of marginal setae; endopod developed with 9+3 setae plumose marginal setae; exopod with 11 plumose setae and one simple seta on the dorsal margin.

DISCUSSION

While larvae for species of Alpheus have been described, except for A. heterochaelis where larval development was complete (KNOWLTON 1973), another 21 species – A. armillatus, A. brevicristatus De Haan, 1849, A. sudara Banner and Banner, 1996, A. dentipes Guerin, 1832, A. laevis Randall, 1839, A. normanni, A. japonicus Miers, 1879, A. digitalis De Haan, 1850, A. rapacida De Man, 1908, A. rapax Fabricius, 1798, A. strenuus Dana, 1852, A. ventrosus H. Milne-Edwards, 1837, A. edwardsii (Audouin, 1827), A. euphorsyne richardsoni Yaldwyne, 1971, A. heeia Banner & Banner, 1975, A. lottini Guérin-Méneville, 1829, A. macrocheles, A. lobidens De Haan, 1850, and Alpheus albatrossaie Banner, 1853 – failed to develop in culture attempts and so descriptions of their larval stages are incomplete (Yang & Kim 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, Yang et al. 2003). Alpheus estuariensis was similar, in that all larvae survived for four stages, but then subsequently died (zoea IV). The intermoult interval was very short (daily) in A. estuariensis for each larval stage.

A morphological comparison shows that the first zoeal stage of A. estuariensis larvae is similar to that of other alpheids species (Tab. I). This similarity may contribute to the difficulty of specific identification. Nevertheless, differences do exist that should be useful for identification. Setation of the outer flagellum of the antennule is unique in bearing four aesthetascs, as compared to three in all other species.

The number of distal segments also vary, with A. estuariensis, A. japonicus and A. euphorsyne richardsoni having 4-segments while other species vary. The number of setae on the coxal endite is variable: A. estuariensis, A. euphorosyne richardsoni, A. heeia, A. digitalis, A. japonicus and A. brevicristatus all have three, while A. sudara, A. lobidens and A. heterochaelis vary. Also, A. estuariensis, A. brevicristatus, A. heterochaelis and A. heeia all have the same number of spines on the basal endite and all lack setae, while A. lobidens, A. japonicus, A. digitalis, A. euphorsyne richardsoni and A. sudara have one or two additional setae. The endopod of the second maxilliped is 4-segmented for all species except A. brevicristatus and A. japonicus, which are 3-segmented.

Alpheus estuariensis has been confused with the very similar A. heterochaelis (CHRISTOFFERSEN 1984). However, as we show here, larvae have several differences that allow specific identification (Tab. I). The most distinct differences that separate these two species are: one seta on the maxillule coxal endite in A. heterochaelis and three setae in A. estuariensis; 8-10 setae on the scaphognathite of the maxilla of A. heterochaelis and five setae in A. estuariensis.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Sincere thanks to Martin Christoffersen, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, and to Hoi Jeong Yang, Pusan National University. We are also grateful to Gustavo de Melo, (Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo) for confirmation of the species identification.

LITERATURE CITED

Submitted: 24.VIII.2007; Accepted: 02.VI.2008.

Editorial responsibility: Georgina Bond-Buckup

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  01 Aug 2008
• Date of issue
  June 2008

History

• Received
  24 Aug 2007
• Accepted
  02 June 2008