Yeti claws: Cheliped sexual dimorphism and symmetry in deep-sea yeti crabs (Kiwaidae)

PLoS ONE, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 20(2), С. e0314320 - e0314320

Опубликована: Фев. 5, 2025

Yeti crabs (Kiwaidae) are deep-sea hydrothermal vent and methane seep dwelling crustaceans that farm chemosynthetic microbes on their bodies. Sexual dimorphism is a common feature of decapod crustaceans, but little known about its prevalence in species from habitats. We address this knowledge deficit by investigating claw sexual symmetry the hydrothermal-vent endemic ’Hoff crab’, Kiwa tyleri . A total 135 specimens East Scotia Ridge were examined, revealing mean asymmetry indices close to zero with respect propodus length height, albeit significantly larger number marginally left-dominant individuals length, possibly indicative some task specialisation between claws, or vestigial ancestral trait. Both male female claws exhibit positive allometry increasing carapace males possess compared females when accounting for size, exhibiting faster growing broader heights throughout size distribution. This marked difference either male-male competition mate access, selection, differential energy allocation (growth vs reproduction) females, as observed other crustaceans. In contrast, reanalysis data inhabiting yeti crab puravida revealed no significant allometry, indicating possible lack similar selection pressures, highlighting potential key differences ecological reproductive strategies K relating function, microbial productivity population density. Whether sex represents norm exception Kiwaidae will require examination family. research enhances our understanding behaviour, ecology evolution crabs, providing basis future studies.

Язык: Английский

Understanding and valuing human connections to deep-sea methane seeps off Costa Rica

Ecological Economics, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 223, С. 108228 - 108228

Опубликована: Май 18, 2024

Methane seeps are highly productive ecosystems that provide carbon sequestration services, host diverse communities including endemic species, and serve as habitats for commercial fisheries. Little is known about the economic value public places on them. Discrete Choice Experiments (DCEs) administered to a sample of Costa Rican taxpayers evaluate their willingness pay (WTP) in monetary terms using tradeoffs made survey context involving three main attributes methane seep insights future conservation management efforts. Extensive effort devoted understanding how Ricans view different aspects deep sea. We find they associate it with strange animals, natural resources, unknown, being far from reach. Perhaps surprisingly, underestimate much know WTP protection highest programs protect followed by high climate change mitigation potential fishing habitat. Higher-income groups women more likely prefer options increase current level protection. discuss science communication community engagement contribute care expressed toward

Язык: Английский

Sexually dimorphic characteristics and their functions in a native crab Leptochryseus kuwaitense (Jones & Clayton, 1983) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Camptandriidae) from the Persian Gulf

Journal of Crustacean Biology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 44(3)

Опубликована: Сен. 1, 2024

Abstract Understanding population dynamics requires knowledge of reproductive aspects such as sexual maturity, fertility, and growth changes body components. We analyzed the relative morphometry in a native brachyuran crab, Leptochryseus kuwaitense (Jones & Clayton, 1983), that dominates mud flats along Iranian coast Persian Gulf Oman. The carapace (length, width, height, front), pleon (abdomen) (length width first, third, fifth, sixth segments), second, fourth walking legs (total length, merus), cheliped propodus width), eye dimentions (distance between two eyes eye-stalk length), total weight were recorded for 83 specimens. A regression model with segmented relationship was employed to examine patterns characteristics question. breakpoints identified analysis provided insights into size at which crabs attain maturity. length morphometric maturity males females 20.43 mm 19.20 mm, respectively. Males exhibited positive allometric most traits, adults having greater slope than juveniles exception weight, some traits (e.g., width) this is more double. By contrast, equation majority juveniles, whereas negative mature individuals. Juvenile individuals both sexes morphological similarities, but tended have smaller compared males. largest male 24.2 (with mean 21.71 N = 43), 21.7 20.14 40) females, characteristic likely associated their biology. Because are larger size, energy investment chelipeds may be crucial mating intreasexual cambating. rate thus rapid increase Our results indicate do not play role combat, coloration plays its selection by females.

Язык: Английский