Effects of temporary starvation and feeding on the survival and developmental time to metamorphosis in megalopa larvae of two Neotropical mangrove crab species, genus Sesarma (Sesarmidae)

- Sesarma megalopae initially starved for 5 or more days presented low percentages of metamorphosis to juvenile
- Temporary starvation did not affect developmental period of S. curacaoense megalopae
- An extended development occurred in S. rectum megalopae starved for 7 or more days
- Sesarma megalopae initially fed for only 1 day exhibited low percentages of metamorphosis to juvenile
- A short development occurred with only 1 (S. curacaoense) or 3 days (S. rectum) of temporary feeding

Temporal variation in pelagic food supply may affect the larval development and recruitment success of many decapod crustaceans in marine coastal ecosystems. In the present study, we experimentally investigated the degree of nutritional vulnerability in megalopa larvae of two sesarmid crab species (Sesarma curacaoense and S. rectum) subjected to different conditions of nutritional stress. In the laboratory, Sesarma megalopae were initially starved for up to 9 days followed by a constant feeding period in one experiment (i.e., point of no return), or they were fed at the beginning of their development for up to 9 days followed by a continuous period of food deprivation in a second experiment (i.e., point of reserve saturation). Megalopae were also constantly reared in the absence and presence of food (Artemia sp. nauplii) in two control groups. The larval response to the different experimental conditions was evaluated through the percentage of survival (= % metamorphosed larvae), developmental time to metamorphosis, and Nutritional Vulnerability Index (= PRS50 / PNR50). All megalopae died when reared under constant starvation whereas 100% of the larvae metamorphosed into the first juvenile crab stage after 13.1 ± 4.4 days (S. curacaoense) or 12.4 ± 1.2 days (S. rectum) when continuously fed. In the first experiment, the starvation periods did not affect the mean developmental time of the megalopae through metamorphosis (13.6 ± 4.3 days) of S. curacaoense and only those larvae initially starved for 7 days presented the lowest percentage of metamorphosis to juvenile crab (73%). In S. rectum, by contrast, megalopae starved from 5 to 9 days exhibited lower percentages of metamorphosis (≤ 86%) compared to larvae starved for 1 or 3 days or those constantly fed. Furthermore, megalopae starved for 7 and 9 days delayed by 1.6 and 3.5 days their metamorphosis, respectively, compared to larvae constantly fed. In the second experiment, the Sesarma megalopae initially fed for only 1 day presented lower percentages of metamorphosis (≤ 73%) than megalopae fed for 3 or more days or continually (≥ 93%). The mean developmental time to metamorphosis was shorter with 1 day (8.1 ± 0.7 days in S. curacaoense) or 3 days (11.3 ± 1.6 days in S. rectum) of temporary feeding. The estimated values of the PNR50 and PRS50 indices were respectively 7.34 and 0.93 days for S. curacaoense and 9.01 and 1.78 days for S. rectum. These values provided a Nutritional Vulnerability Index of 0.13 for S. curacaoense and 0.2 for S. rectum, indicating a reduced dependence on exogenous food by the megalopae of these two sesarmid crab species. This starvation tolerance associated with a short megalopal development should increase the likelihood of successful survival into the benthic life phase and avoid latent effects of the larval nutritional stress and/or delayed metamorphosis on early juvenile performance of both Sesarma species.