atyid shrimp
Predator–prey interactions in river networks: comparing shrimp spatial refugia in two drainage basins
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 13:44 — ckassCOVICH, A. P., T. A. CROWL, C. L. HEIN, M. J. TOWNSEND, AND
W. H. MCDOWELL. 2009. Predator-prey interactions in
river networks: comparing shrimp spatial refugia in two
drainage basins. Freshwater Biology 54:450–465.
Abstract:
1. Analysis of drainage networks provides a framework to evaluate the densities and
distributions of prey species relative to locations of their predators. Upstream migration by
diadromous shrimp (Atya lanipes and Xiphocaris elongata) during their life cycle provides
access to headwater refugia from fish predation, which is intense in estuaries and coastal
rivers.
2. We postulate that geomorphic barriers (such as large, steep waterfalls >3.5 m in height),
can directly limit the distribution of predatory fishes and, indirectly, affect the densities of
their prey (freshwater shrimps) in headwater streams.
3. We compared densities of shrimp in pools above and below waterfalls, in four
headwater tributaries in two river basins of the Luquillo Mountains of northeastern Puerto
Rico. We measured shrimp densities twice a year over 8 years (1998–2005) in Prieta,
Toronja, Bisley 3 and Bisley 5 streams, which differ in drainage network positions relative
to steep waterfalls in Rı´o Espı´ritu Santo and Rı´o Mameyes.
4. Predatory fishes are absent in the Prieta and Toronja pools and present in Bisely 3
and in lower Bisley 5 pools. Atya lanipes and X. elongata rarely occur in the Bisley
streams where predatory fishes are present but these shrimps are abundant in Prieta and
Toronja, streams lacking predatory fishes.
5. The mean carapace length of X. elongata is longer in pools where fish are present (Bisley
3 and lower Bisley 5) than in pools lacking fish (Prieta, Toronja, Upper Bisley 5). The
increased body size is primarily due to significantly longer rostrums of individuals in
stream reaches with fish (below waterfall barriers) than in those reaches lacking fish (above
waterfall barriers). Rostrum length may be an adaptation to avoid predation by visually
feeding fishes.
6. Atya lanipes and X. elongata distributions and densities were predicted primarily by
drainage network position relative to the presence or absence of predatory fishes. High,
steep waterfalls effectively impeded fish from moving upstream and created a spatial
refuge. Xiphocaris elongata may rely on size refugia (longer rostrum) to minimize predation
where spatial refugia are lacking.
Effects of extreme low flows on freshwater shrimps in a perennial tropical stream
Thu, 07/21/2011 - 20:14 — ckassCOVICH, A.P.; CROWL, T.A.; SCATENA, F.N. 2003. Effects of extreme low flows on freshwater shrimps in a perennial tropical stream.. Freshwater Biology 48, 1199-1206.
Abstract:
1. Long-term data on rainfall suggests that perennial rainforest streams rarely are subject to drying of riffles or pools in the wet, non-seasonal Caribbean climate of Puerto Rico. Unusually low rainfall in 1994 caused some headwater riffles to dry out completely, resulting in isolated pools, reduced pool volumes and loss of access to microhabitats by benthic invertebrates. 2. From 1992 to 1998, shrimp populations were sampled bimonthly using baited traps in six pools along 1200 m (from 305 to 480 m in altitude) of Quebrada Prieta, a second-order headwater stream in the Luquillo Experimental Forest (Caribbean National Forest). 3. Following contraction of the smaller and shallower pools in the most upstream sectionof the stream, mean densities of the dominant shrimp (Atya lanipes) increased from 22 to 75shrimp m)2 of pool area during the 1994 drought year. A second common species(Xiphocaris elongata) increased from 5 to 14 shrimp m)2. A smaller percentage of adults of both species was gravid during the drought. 4. Following the 1994 drought (19951998), densities of both shrimp species and reproductive activity of Atya returned to predrought (19901993) levels. However, the reproductive activity of Xiphocaris remained lower than in the predrought period. 5. It is suggested that prolonged droughts, even in tropical rainforest biomes, may significantly alter aquatic communities through localised crowding effects resulting from habitat contraction, and lead to prolonged decreases in reproductive output. Consequently, major alterations in aquatic populations and communities would be predicted by current climate change scenarios of decreased total rainfall and increased variability.
