Evaluation of Possible Reproductively Mediated Character Displacement in the Crayfishes, Orconectes rusticus and O. sanbornii

Author Institution: Department of Biological Sciences, The Florida State UniversityOrconectes rusticus is replacing several species of crayfishes in north-central and northeastern North America, including O. sanbornii in Ohio. Recent evidence suggests that the species replacements may be driven by asymmetrical reproductive success favoring 0. rusticus. Nonetheless, some sympatric associations appear locally persistent. Because crayfish demonstrate size-assortative mating and there is a disparity in the sizes of the species, further divergence in the sizes of the species in sympatry could enhance reproductive isolation, ultimately providing a mechanism for character displacement. To test this hypothesis the size differentials between crayfish collected from allopatric and sympatric populations in east-central Ohio were compared with expected differences. The possibility of clinal variation in size was addressed by comparing crayfish sizes along a continuous allopatric-sympatric-allopatric species gradient within one stream. The initial character displacement hypothesis was not substantiated by comparisons of allopatric and sympatric populations within or among streams for male or female 0. rusticus or male 0. sanbornii. However, female 0. sanbornii size distributions were consistent with unilateral character displacement

Evaluation of Possible Reproductively Mediated Character Displacement in the Crayfishes, Orconectes rusticus and O. sanbornii

Orconectes rusticus is replacing several species of crayfishes in north-central and northeastern North America, including O. sanbornii in Ohio. Recent evidence suggests that the species replacements may be driven by asymmetrical reproductive success favoring O. rusticus. Nonetheless, some sympatric associations appear locally persistent. Because crayfish demonstrate size assortative mating and there is a disparity in the sizes of the species, further divergence in the sizes of the species in sympatry could enhance reproductive isolation, ultimately providing a mechanism for character displacement. To test this hypothesis the size differentials between crayfish collected from allopatric and sympatric populations in east-central Ohio were compared with expected differences. The possibility of clinal variation in size was addressed by comparing crayfish sized along a continuous allopatric-sympatric-allopatric species gradient within one stream. The initial character displacement hypothesis was not substantiated by comparisons of allopatric and sympatric populations within or among streams for male or female O. rusticus or male O. sanbornii. However, female O. sanbornii size distributions were consistent with unilateral character displacement

Community Responses to Variable Predation: Field Studies with Sunfish and Freshwater Macroinvertebrates

The impact of variable predation by bluegill sunfish on macroinvertebrate prey in a North Florida lake is examined. Variable predation may occur in many systems and may contribute substantially to the spatial heterogeneity, temporal inconstancy and species composition of prey communities. Patchy, temporally variable predation characterized middepth and deep lake habitats, whereas in the shallow zone predation was relatively constant and homogeneous. Predation varied significantly every 2-4 wk in the mid-depth zone, but varied little between consecutive weeks or days. Caging experiments revealed that variable predation altered prey community composition and increased the mean size and size range of some prey (e.g. Odonata) as compared to the constant predation treatment. Prey abundances also appeared more heterogeneous among cages (patches) and varied more temporally under a variable predation regime. However, total prey abundance, species abundance, and within-patch spatial heterogeneity did not differ among predator treatments. In general, the macroinvertebrate community exposed to variable predation more closely approximated the natural middepth zone community than that from the constant predation regime. Previous studies of fish predation on macroinvertebrate communities have concentrated on shallow littoral habitats, but these result suggest that conclusions drawn from shallow habitats may not be representative of all lake zones. Variable predation may occur in many systems, and may contribute substantially to the spatial heterogeneity, temporal inconstancy, and species composition of prey communities

Benthic Fisheries Ecology in a Changing Environment: Unraveling Process to Achieve Prediction

Marine fisheries and the ecosystems that sustain them are increasingly beset by environmental deterioration, and the problem is particularly acute in coastal zones where human Populations are increasing. In the best of circumstances, fishery managers are faced with the multiple, often conflicting, demands of resource users, politicians, and scientists when considering strategies for resource management. A further challenge is that management decisions must be made against a backdrop of a deteriorating environment and the shifting status of coastal ecosystem integrity. Traditional tools for single-species management may be inadequate in these settings. Furthermore. the necessary empirical data to appropriately parameterize models with vital rates representative of all altered environment are often lacking. Thus, we need approaches that better approximate the complicated dynamics between environmental conditions, fishery impacts, and multi-species interactions. Spatially-explicit, indivickial-based simulation modeling potentially permits this kind of integration, but it has seen limited use in marine resource management. especially with respect to benthic resources. My colleagues and I have used this approach, combined with targeted experimental work, to explore the impacts of nursery habitat deterioration, coastal freshwater management. and fishery activities oil Caribbean spiny lobster populations and sponge community structure in the Florida Keys, Florida (USA). Although not applicable for all resource management situations, our experiences provide all example of the potential use of spatially-explicit, individual-based modeling and targeted empirical science in predicting resource conditions in a dynamic environment

The 6th International Conference and Workshop on Lobster Biology and Management: An Introduction

Every three years or so, the International Conference and Workshop on Lobster Biology and Management (ICWL) brings together lobster scientists, fishery managers, and industry representatives from around the world for a week of scientific presentations, workshops, and discussions on lobster biology and management. The first ICWL was held in Perth, Australia, in January 1977. Its purpose was to bring together a small group of lobster researchers from the USA and Australia to discuss common issues and themes. That initial workshop spawned a continuing series of meetings that have become the international lobster conference for scientists—the equivalent of an international congress meeting. The second conference was in St. Andrews, Canada, in 1985; the third in Havana, Cuba, in 1990; the fourth in Sanriku, Japan, in 1993; and the fifth in Queenstown, New Zealand, in 1997. The number of participants and the international representation at the conference has grown from 34 scientists and managers from 6 countries at the first meeting to over 200 participants from 25 countries at the September 2000 meeting in Key West, Florida (USA). All told, 126 oral presentations and 43 poster presentations took place during the five-day meeting

An analysis of the mechanisms governing species replacements in crayfish

We investigated mechanisms governing replacement of the native crayfish Orconectes sanborni by an invading crayfish, Orconectes rusticus. The two species had similar life histories, habitat preferences, and feeding patterns in allopatric and sympatric stream areas. Orconectes rusticus young-of-year (YOY) grew faster than O. sanborni YOY in the field. Adult O. rusticus were larger and, hence, dominant over adult O. sanborni; YOY were non-aggressive. In laboratory experiments, adult crayfish (about 28 mm carapace length or larger) were not susceptable to predation by largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides, 30 cm total length) and did not alter shelter use when fish were present. Orconectes rusticus YOY were less susceptible to predation than O. sanborni YOY. Orconectes rusticus YOY reduced their vulnerability to largemouth bass by occupying shelters more often than YOY O. sanborni. In mixed-species mate-selection experiments, male O. rusticus and male O. sanborni preferentially mated with O. rusticus females. Inappropriate mate selection in sympatry may have caused the 90% reduction in recruitment for both species in 1982. Orconectes rusticus probably maintains greater population growth than O. sanborni, because (1) more gravid O. rusticus females occurred in sympatry, (2) O. rusticus produced more young than O. sanborni, and (3) O. rusticus young grew faster. Reproductive interference, acting synergistically with differences in aggressive dominance and young-of-year susceptibility to predation, appears to serve as the major mechanisms regulating replacement of O. sanborni by O. rusticus in Ohio streams.Funding for this project was provided by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, a Sigma Xi Grant-in-aid of Research, and an Ohio State University Grant-in-aid of Research

Behavioral Enhancement of Onshore Transport by Postlarval Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus Argus)

We conducted a series of laboratory experiments to examine the orientation, settlement, and metamorphosis of Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) pueruli (postlarvae) in response to cues characteristic of their nursery in back-reef tropical lagoons. Our results suggest that pueruli were attracted to coastal water sources and the metabolites of red macroalgae (Laurencia spp.) when compared with oceanic water and artificial seawater treatments. Pueruli were not attracted to waterborne cues from sea grass, were repelled by hypersaline or hyposaline water, and discerned coastal cues from water collected as far as 30 km offshore from the reef. We also conducted experiments to examine the settlement behavior of pueruli in response to different substrates and hydrostatic pressures. Pueruli only settled at pressures equivalent to depths \u3c5 m, which is where most settlement occurs in the field; settlement behavior was further enhanced by the presence of red macroalgae. Coastal water or artificial seawater containing red macroalgae metabolites hastened puerulus development and molting to the benthic juvenile stage by 20-30% compared with those exposed to artificial seawater. Collectively, our results demonstrate that spiny lobster pueruli use chemical and pressure cues during onshore transport and selection of settlement habitat, highlighting the important role of behavioral responses to physical cues in the recruitment of this species

The Influence of Shelter, Conspecifics, and Threat of Predation on the Behavior of the Long-Spined Sea Urchin (Diadema antillarum)

The interplay of competition and predation often affects prey habitat use, which may concentrate prey in safer areas with indirect consequences on their foraging efficiency and the effects of their foraging on the community. Predation is intense on coral reefs where competition for limited space and food is severe. The sea urchin Diadema antillarum, an inhabitant of Caribbean coral reefs, uses crevice shelters and often aggregates with conspecifics for protection against predators, which appears to reflect a conflicting balance between group defense versus competition for limited shelter. A series of laboratory experiments was used to determine how the availability of shelter, conspecifics, and chemical odors from conspecifics and a predator-the spotted spiny lobster (Panulirus guttatus)-affect D. antillarum shelter use. The long-spined sea urchin D. antillarum responded strongly to the odor of conspecifics and the lobster predator. Absent the threat of predation, D. antillarum compete for shelter and avoid shelters bearing the scent of other urchins. But, D. antillarum readily shared shelters and preferred the scent of conspecifics when exposed to lobster odors. Thus, efforts to enhance the recovery of D. antillarum populations on degraded reefs must strike a balance between minimizing their mortality from predation and increasing habitat complexity, which not only increases shelter for D. antillarum, but also their predators

Habitat-Based Intraguild Predation By Caribbean Reef Octopus Octopus Briareus on Juvenile Caribbean Spiny Lobster Panulirus Argus

Intraguild predation occurs when species simultaneously compete for resources and interact as predator and prey, which describes the interaction between juvenile Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus and Caribbean reef octopus Octopus briareus in the Florida Keys, USA. Octopuses are notorious predators of decapod crustaceans, and their use of crevice shelters suggests that they may also compete for shelter with their lobster prey. Lobsters use mainly chemical cues to detect and avoid octopus, so we hypothesized that the negative association between these species may be as much the consequence of avoidance of a superior competitor as it is of direct predation. Surveys of lobsters and octopuses occupying artificial shelters at 19 hard-bottom sites confirmed that lobsters do not share dens with octopuses, and also show that lobster and octopus abundances are negatively correlated. Tethering experiments on a subset of those sites revealed that predation on lobster was indeed higher on sites with more octopuses. Results from mesocosm studies indicated that although juvenile lobsters do not attain a size refuge from octopus predation, the presence of alternative prey and lobster conspecifics reduces the risk of predation on lobster by octopus. Mesocosm experiments also showed that octopuses were the competitive dominants when shelter was limited. Thus, the negative association between lobster and octopus in the field appears to be driven by both predation and avoidance of octopus-rich sites by lobsters, rather than competition per se. However, crevice shelters suitable for juvenile lobster are limited in many hard-bottom areas in the Florida Keys, so areas where octopuses are abundant may further limit the local accessibility of shelters for juvenile spiny lobsters even if the direct effects of predation by octopus are minimal

Are Artificial Witham Surface Collectors Adequate Indicators of Caribbean Spiny Lobster, Panulirus argus, Recruitment?

Understanding the local dynamics of Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) postlarval influx, settlement, and recruitment may be essential for the responsible management of this important and heavily exploited resource. Most lobster recruitment research programs in the Caribbean employ derivations of the Witham -type surface collector to monitor postlarval (puerulus) lobster influx. However, the relevance of data obtained from surface collectors with respect to the estimation of actual puerulus influx, settlement, or recruitment to subsequent benthic juvenile stages remains untested. We investigated that relevance on regional (i.e., tens of kilometers) and local (i.e., tens of meters) scales by examining the quantitative relationships between the following: Surface collector catch of pueruli Planktonic density of pueruli Benthic settlement of pueruli Recruitment to the postalgal juvenile stag