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Reproductive aspects of two bythograeid crab species from hydrothermal vents in the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge

Reproductive aspects of two bythograeid crab species from hydrothermal vents in the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge
Reproductive aspects of two bythograeid crab species from hydrothermal vents in the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge
Bythograea laubieri, B. vrijenhoeki and alvinellid polychaetes dominate the vent fauna
of the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge. We studied gonadal development in females of both crabs. They have
ovary microstructures characteristic of brachyuran decapods. The ovaries are paired organs overlying
the hepatopancreas beneath the carapace. Oogonia proliferate from the germinal epithelium and
develop into previtellogenic oocytes that grow to 60 Mm before undergoing vitellogenesis. The
observed maximum sizes of mature oocytes were 209 Mm in B. laubieri and 138 Mm in B. vrijenhoeki.
No ovigerous females were found in the samples, which agrees with the segregation behaviour of
ovigerous females away from the direct influence of the active chimney in some related species. In
contrast to other species of bythograeid crabs, the oocyte size-frequency data suggest that B. laubieri
and B. vrijenhoeki lack synchrony in reproduction of the population as a whole. Synchrony and seasonality
in reproduction of B. thermydron have been linked to the formation of phytoplankton blooms
in surface waters. We suggest that the biogeography of bythograeid crabs is determined by contrasting
oceanographic regimes that influence the reproductive patterns observed in different species.
Bythograeid crab, Gonad development, Hydrothermal vent, Pacific-Antarctic Ridge
0171-8630
153-160
Hilário, Ana
6a4fd628-3152-4dc1-b2b1-16f7a31b92f9
Vilar, Sara
f3c302d5-3f44-48b3-b325-f25c4b8dca5c
Cunha, Marina R.
f97b25ca-1a36-47ae-a48b-43800a6a6d51
Tyler, Paul
d1965388-38cc-4c1d-9217-d59dba4dd7f8
Hilário, Ana
6a4fd628-3152-4dc1-b2b1-16f7a31b92f9
Vilar, Sara
f3c302d5-3f44-48b3-b325-f25c4b8dca5c
Cunha, Marina R.
f97b25ca-1a36-47ae-a48b-43800a6a6d51
Tyler, Paul
d1965388-38cc-4c1d-9217-d59dba4dd7f8

Hilário, Ana, Vilar, Sara, Cunha, Marina R. and Tyler, Paul (2009) Reproductive aspects of two bythograeid crab species from hydrothermal vents in the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 378, 153-160. (doi:10.3354/meps07858).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Bythograea laubieri, B. vrijenhoeki and alvinellid polychaetes dominate the vent fauna
of the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge. We studied gonadal development in females of both crabs. They have
ovary microstructures characteristic of brachyuran decapods. The ovaries are paired organs overlying
the hepatopancreas beneath the carapace. Oogonia proliferate from the germinal epithelium and
develop into previtellogenic oocytes that grow to 60 Mm before undergoing vitellogenesis. The
observed maximum sizes of mature oocytes were 209 Mm in B. laubieri and 138 Mm in B. vrijenhoeki.
No ovigerous females were found in the samples, which agrees with the segregation behaviour of
ovigerous females away from the direct influence of the active chimney in some related species. In
contrast to other species of bythograeid crabs, the oocyte size-frequency data suggest that B. laubieri
and B. vrijenhoeki lack synchrony in reproduction of the population as a whole. Synchrony and seasonality
in reproduction of B. thermydron have been linked to the formation of phytoplankton blooms
in surface waters. We suggest that the biogeography of bythograeid crabs is determined by contrasting
oceanographic regimes that influence the reproductive patterns observed in different species.

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More information

Published date: 12 March 2009
Keywords: Bythograeid crab, Gonad development, Hydrothermal vent, Pacific-Antarctic Ridge

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 65948
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/65948
ISSN: 0171-8630
PURE UUID: 9c4bd95a-0ddd-486e-8e76-b9fd68cc8177

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 06 Apr 2009
Last modified: 13 Mar 2024 18:01

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Contributors

Author: Ana Hilário
Author: Sara Vilar
Author: Marina R. Cunha
Author: Paul Tyler

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