Seasonal Variations in Size, Biomass, and Elemental Composition (CHN) of Halicarcinus planatus (Brachyura: Hymenosomatidae) Larvae from the Beagle Channel, Southern South America
The crab Halicarcinus planatus (Fabricius, 1775) is the only member of Hymenosomatidae that inhabits the southern tip of South America, and it is the only decapod species that reproduces twice a year in the Beagle Channel. In this study, we analysed seasonal variations in development duration, body...
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ftbioone:10.1163/193724012X635926 2024-06-02T07:57:33+00:00 Seasonal Variations in Size, Biomass, and Elemental Composition (CHN) of Halicarcinus planatus (Brachyura: Hymenosomatidae) Larvae from the Beagle Channel, Southern South America Mariano J. Diez Eduardo D. Spivak Klaus Anger Gustavo A. Lovrich Mariano J. Diez Eduardo D. Spivak Klaus Anger Gustavo A. Lovrich world 2012-06-01 text/HTML https://doi.org/10.1163/193724012X635926 en eng The Crustacean Society doi:10.1163/193724012X635926 All rights reserved. https://doi.org/10.1163/193724012X635926 Text 2012 ftbioone https://doi.org/10.1163/193724012X635926 2024-05-07T01:01:58Z The crab Halicarcinus planatus (Fabricius, 1775) is the only member of Hymenosomatidae that inhabits the southern tip of South America, and it is the only decapod species that reproduces twice a year in the Beagle Channel. In this study, we analysed seasonal variations in development duration, body size, biomass (dry weight), and elemental composition (CHN) of larvae from a population living at the southernmost limit of the species' geographic range. Compared to offspring produced in December (early summer), larvae released in August (late winter) were on average larger and heavier, and they showed a higher carbon content (suggesting a larger lipid fraction). This pattern of intraspecific variation in larval size and biomass corresponds with minimum primary productivity in sub-Antarctic regions during winter, suggesting that large winter eggs may represent a reproductive adaptation to a regular pattern of variation in nutritional conditions, including food limitation in winter. As an additional or alternative explanation, also strong salinity fluctuations occurring in summer might reduce larval quality in the December cohort. In conclusion, seasonal variation in larval size and biomass may be related to variations in nutritional and/or physical factors. Text Antarc* Antarctic BioOne Online Journals Antarctic Journal of Crustacean Biology 32 4 575 581 |
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The crab Halicarcinus planatus (Fabricius, 1775) is the only member of Hymenosomatidae that inhabits the southern tip of South America, and it is the only decapod species that reproduces twice a year in the Beagle Channel. In this study, we analysed seasonal variations in development duration, body size, biomass (dry weight), and elemental composition (CHN) of larvae from a population living at the southernmost limit of the species' geographic range. Compared to offspring produced in December (early summer), larvae released in August (late winter) were on average larger and heavier, and they showed a higher carbon content (suggesting a larger lipid fraction). This pattern of intraspecific variation in larval size and biomass corresponds with minimum primary productivity in sub-Antarctic regions during winter, suggesting that large winter eggs may represent a reproductive adaptation to a regular pattern of variation in nutritional conditions, including food limitation in winter. As an additional or alternative explanation, also strong salinity fluctuations occurring in summer might reduce larval quality in the December cohort. In conclusion, seasonal variation in larval size and biomass may be related to variations in nutritional and/or physical factors. |
author2 |
Mariano J. Diez Eduardo D. Spivak Klaus Anger Gustavo A. Lovrich |
format |
Text |
author |
Mariano J. Diez Eduardo D. Spivak Klaus Anger Gustavo A. Lovrich |
spellingShingle |
Mariano J. Diez Eduardo D. Spivak Klaus Anger Gustavo A. Lovrich Seasonal Variations in Size, Biomass, and Elemental Composition (CHN) of Halicarcinus planatus (Brachyura: Hymenosomatidae) Larvae from the Beagle Channel, Southern South America |
author_facet |
Mariano J. Diez Eduardo D. Spivak Klaus Anger Gustavo A. Lovrich |
author_sort |
Mariano J. Diez |
title |
Seasonal Variations in Size, Biomass, and Elemental Composition (CHN) of Halicarcinus planatus (Brachyura: Hymenosomatidae) Larvae from the Beagle Channel, Southern South America |
title_short |
Seasonal Variations in Size, Biomass, and Elemental Composition (CHN) of Halicarcinus planatus (Brachyura: Hymenosomatidae) Larvae from the Beagle Channel, Southern South America |
title_full |
Seasonal Variations in Size, Biomass, and Elemental Composition (CHN) of Halicarcinus planatus (Brachyura: Hymenosomatidae) Larvae from the Beagle Channel, Southern South America |
title_fullStr |
Seasonal Variations in Size, Biomass, and Elemental Composition (CHN) of Halicarcinus planatus (Brachyura: Hymenosomatidae) Larvae from the Beagle Channel, Southern South America |
title_full_unstemmed |
Seasonal Variations in Size, Biomass, and Elemental Composition (CHN) of Halicarcinus planatus (Brachyura: Hymenosomatidae) Larvae from the Beagle Channel, Southern South America |
title_sort |
seasonal variations in size, biomass, and elemental composition (chn) of halicarcinus planatus (brachyura: hymenosomatidae) larvae from the beagle channel, southern south america |
publisher |
The Crustacean Society |
publishDate |
2012 |
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https://doi.org/10.1163/193724012X635926 |
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Antarc* Antarctic |
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https://doi.org/10.1163/193724012X635926 |
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doi:10.1163/193724012X635926 |
op_rights |
All rights reserved. |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1163/193724012X635926 |
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Journal of Crustacean Biology |
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32 |
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4 |
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575 |
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581 |
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1800740720979476480 |