Back to Search
Start Over
Podding of Paralomis granulosa (Lithodidae) juveniles inhabiting kelp forests of the Cape Horn Archipelago (Chile)
- Source :
- Nauplius, Vol 29 (2021), Nauplius, Volume: 29, Article number: e2021031, Published: 21 JUL 2021, Nauplius v.29 2021, Nauplius, Sociedade Brasileira de Carcinologia (SBCA), instacron:SBCA
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Sociedade Brasileira de Carcinologia, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Subtidal observations along the Cape Horn Archipelago, Chile (CHA) in February 2017 revealed an unusually large aggregation (or pod) of juvenile false king crabs, Paralomis granulosa (Hombron and Jacquinot, 1846), in association with kelp forests (Macrocystis pyrifera and Lessonia spp.). This is the first study to report a dense aggregation of juveniles of this crab, which was observed at Wollaston Island (WI) (~ 10 m). Paralomis granulosa was present on half the transects at WI (N=10), with a density of 3.1 ± 9.9 ind. m-2. Photographs from the podding event showed densities of P. granulosa ranging from 63 to 367 ind. plant-1 (190 ± 133 ind. plant-1). Juveniles (32.8 ± 7.3 mm carapace length) were recorded on kelp fronds, holdfasts, kelp stipes, and adjacent rocky bottom of this protected coast. This podding behavior resembles that of other juvenile king crabs in terms of homogeneity in size structure and may be a predator avoidance mechanism. These observations highlight three aspects of this kelp-animal relationship: (i) identification of a previously unknown ecosystem service provided by sub-Antarctic kelp forests to the associated benthic fauna; (ii) the ecological value of kelp as a bioengineering species; and (iii) pods being an important attribute for population assessments. Due to the importance of the CHA in the life cycle for this and other species, we suggest the archipelago be incorporated within the recently established Diego Ramírez Island-Drake Passage Marine Park.
- Subjects :
- king crab ecology
QH301-705.5
Fauna
Science
Population
Kelp
sub-Antarctic benthos
Juvenile
Biology (General)
education
education.field_of_study
geography
geography.geographical_feature_category
biology
Ecology
Diego Ramírez Island-Drake Passage Marine Park
biology.organism_classification
Kelp forest
QL1-991
Benthic zone
Archipelago
seaweed-animal relationship
Macrocystis pyrifera
Zoology
ecological recruitment
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 23582936
- Volume :
- 29
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Nauplius
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....4d2b6f99bc8f51772566be5f908a1eb7