Spatio-temporal variability of Brachyura larval assemblages in mangroves of the Gulf of Guayaquil’s inner estuary

Abstract:

Mangroves are the dominant coastal vegetation in tropical estuaries and host a large diversity of brachyuran crabs. Crab larvae have adapted to dynamic hydrological conditions in estuaries using several physiological and behavioral strategies. Changes in crab larval assemblages can be monitored in time in order to detect ecological changes occurring within estuaries. For this study, we sampled quarterly crab larval assemblages in two sub-estuaries (Salado and Churute) of the Gulf of Guayaquil (GG) during 2016–2017. The largest community dissimilarities occurred between sub-estuaries, with Salado having higher morphological diversity and larval densities than Churute. Temporal patterns were only evident within each sub-estuary, and in relation to total and individual morpho-species density values. Ocypodidae larvae were dominant across samples; with zoea I of the red mangrove crab (Ucides …

Año de publicación:

2021

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Fuente:

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