The Thalassinidean Mud Shrimp Upogebia vasquezi: Life Cycle and Reproductive Traits on the Amazonian Coast, Brazil

The thalassinideans comprise the infraorders Axiidea and Gebiidea, two distinct groups of decapods that have converged morphologically and ecologically as burrowing forms, commonly known as mud lobsters and mud or ghost shrimps. These groups are an important component of the macroinfauna of intertidal and subtidal environments and are distributed throughout the world, with species diversity increasing from high latitudes toward the equator. These species are burrowing benthic decapods, with more than 95% of species inhabiting shallow waters in marine and estuarine environments, exerting considerable influence over the structure of benthic communities through their ability to bioturbate the sediments, with effects on the infauna and seagrasses in coastal environments. Upogebia vasquezi has an ample geographic distribution, it is typically found in rocky outcrops near mangroves. This species reproduces year round, which is subjected to strong seasonal fluctuations in salinity due to the local precipitation regime. The Amazon Macrotidal Mangrove Coast, representing 10% of the Brazilian coastline and encompassing more than 56% of the country’s mangrove forests, is a high priority area for conservation. This chapter aims to elucidate the reproductive traits of U. vasquezi with a revision about the known ecological information available for thalassinidean species all over the world

DISTRIBUIÇÃO DA DENSIDADE LARVAL DO CARANGUEJO Petrolisthes armatus (GIBBES, 1850) (DECAPODA: PORCELLANIDAE) NO ESTUÁRIO DE CURUÇÁ, AMAZÔNIA BRASILEIRA

The aim of this research was to estimate the density of P. armatus larvae in the Curuçá River estuary, Pará, an Amazon estuary, and check which variables significantly affect the abundance of this group in the mesozooplankton by using the correlation between larval density and environmental factors. Plankton samplings (200 μm-mesh net) were conducted at eight sites in the Curuçá River and Muriá Stream estuary, from September to November 2003 (period with lower rainfall), and from March to May 2004 (period with higher rainfall). Abiotic data of temperature, salinity, conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) were recorded at each site. DO was the only factor that did not significantly differ between months. The other abiotic factors had higher values in the period with lower rainfall. A total of 339 P. armatus zoea I /100m3 and 19.07 zoea II /100m3 were collected. Zoea were more abundant in the period with lower rainfall. There was no significant difference in median densities between sites and months. Zoea I larvae were positively correlated with abiotic factors, except for DO. Zoea II were positively correlated with BOD and pH. Larval distribution in the Curuçá River estuary was primarily affected by variation in temperature, BOD, conductivity, pH, and salinity in both periods; with higher and lower rainfall. The unprecedented fact is that zoea I was significantly correlated with salinity and zoea II was not, thus indicating that zoea II is adapted to salinity fluctuations in the estuary, suggesting larval retention.Keywords: Anomura; Crustacea; Amazonian coast; zooplankton; estuary.Esta pesquisa objetivou estimar a densidade das larvas de P. armatus no estuário do Rio Curuçá, Pará, estuário amazônico, e por meio da correlação entre a densidade larval e os fatores ambientais, verificar quais variáveis influenciam, significativamente, a abundância deste grupo no mesozooplâncton. Coletas de plâncton (rede 200 μm) foram realizadas em oito locais, no estuário do Rio Curuçá e Furo Muriá, em setembro e novembro de 2003 (período menos chuvoso), março e maio de 2004 (período chuvoso). Dados abióticos de temperatura, salinidade, condutividade, pH, oxigênio dissolvido (OD) e demanda bioquímica de oxigênio foram registrados para cada local. O OD foi o único que não diferiu, significativamente, entre os meses. Os demais fatores abióticos apresentaram maiores valores no período de menor pluviosidade. Foram coletadas 339 zoea I /100m3 e 19,07 zoea II /100m3 de P. armatus. As zoés foram mais abundantes no período menos chuvoso. Não houve diferença significativa para a mediana das densidades entre os locais ou meses. As larvas zoea I correlacionaram-se positivamente com os fatores abióticos, exceto OD. As zoea II correlacionaram-se positivamente com DBO e pH. A distribuição larval no estuário do Rio Curuçá foi influenciada principalmente pela variação da temperatura, DBO, condutividade, pH e salinidade para ambos os períodos chuvoso e menos chuvoso. Fato inédito é a zoea I correlacionar-se significativamente com a salinidade e a zoea II não, indicando que a zoea II é apta às flutuações da salinidade no estuário, sugerindo retenção larval.Palavras-chave: Anomura, Crustacea, litoral amazônico, zooplâncton, estuário

Carry-over effects of delayed larval metamorphosis on early juvenile performance in the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus (Ucididae)

Competent larvae of most benthic marine invertebrates including brachyuran decapod crustaceans can delay their settlement and metamorphosis in the absence of suitable environmental cues. This however may carry significant costs for the post-larval performance and fitness of early benthic juveniles. In this paper, we examined in the laboratory whether delayed larval metamorphosis affects early juvenile performance of the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus, measured as survival and growth through the first five juvenile crab stages (JI–JV). We further investigated whether ‘carry-over’ effects of an extended larval period vary intraspecifically among juveniles from three different hatches (F1–F3). Ucides megalopae were cultivated in two treatments. In the first one, the control, megalopae were cultivated continuously in exposure to conspecific crab odours (adult-conditioned seawater = ACSW) until moulting to the first juvenile crab stage. In the second, the delay-treatment, settlement-competent megalopae were kept for 20 days in pure filtered seawater without metamorphosis-triggering odours. From day 21 onwards, megalopae were transferred to ACSW to induce larval moult. The results showed that delayed metamorphosis affects early juvenile survival and growth of U. cordatus. In the delay-treatment, survival rates of juveniles (JI–JV) from F1–F3 were 11–31% lower and intermoult development periods 1.5–4.2 days longer than in the control. Delayed juveniles (F1–F3) exhibited 9.2–14.1% smaller body sizes (carapace width) and 1.4–3.9% lower growth rates mostly in the first two moulting events compared to specimens derived from non-delayed megalopae. Most of the detrimental effects were observed in almost all five crab stages studied, indicating that the costs of delayed metamorphosis may persist throughout early juvenile development. Juvenile morphology, however, was not affected. Our study also showed that carry-over effects of delayed larval moult vary intraspecifically among offspring produced by different females. This plasticity in phenotypic effects could relate to differences in the nutritional state, health or age of the females, to stressful environments during embryogenesis or to genetic differences. The observed carry-over effects of delayed settlement on early juvenile performance may affect the overall recruitment success and population dynamics of U. cordatus. In the field, such a situation would appear when new mangrove areas void of conspecific crabs are colonized or when degraded sites are re-populated by larvae originating from elsewhere populations

Kudoa ajurutellus n. sp. (Multivalvulida: Kudoidae), a parasite of the skeletal musculature of the Bressou sea catfish, Aspistor quadriscutis, in northeastern of the State of Pará

Neto, José Pompeu Araújo, Cardim, Joyce, Da Silva, Diehgo T., Hamoy, Igor, Matos, Edilson, Abrunhosa, Fernando (2020): Kudoa ajurutellus n. sp. (Multivalvulida: Kudoidae), a parasite of the skeletal musculature of the Bressou sea catfish, Aspistor quadriscutis, in northeastern of the State of Pará. Zootaxa 4718 (3): 371-380, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4718.3.

Evaluation of the contamination of the soil and water of an open dump in the Amazon Region, Brazil

Ministério de Sanidad, Consumo y Bienestar SocialFederal University of Pará. Graduate in Natural Sciences. Baião, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Coastal Studies Institute. Bragança, PA, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Geosciences. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Geosciences. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Coastal Studies Institute. Bragança, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Coastal Studies Institute. Bragança, PA, Brazil.The emergence of cities and the ongoing growth of urban areas have contributed to an overwhelming increase in negative environmental impacts. A major concern is the impact caused by the inadequate disposal of municipal solid waste in open dumps without proper regulation or planning. The negative impacts caused by the inadequate disposal of solid waste include the contamination of groundwater and soils, the proliferation of disease vectors, and odoriferous and visual pollution. One specific problem generated by the disposal of solid waste is the decomposition of the organic matter found in this waste, which generates leachates. These highly soluble substances can percolate through the soil and penetrate bodies of superficial water or the water table. The present study was based on the integration of geophysical data with physicochemical, hydrochemical, and microbiological analyses, as well as the analysis of heavy metal concentrations in water and leachate samples. Contamination was confirmed and may be associated with the leachate produced by the solid waste deposited inadequately at the study site. The results provide insights into important public health and safety issues, and should alert local authorities with regard to the environmental impacts caused by underground contamination in the Amazon town of Mocajuba (Brazil)