Larval Performance of Amphidromous and Landlocked Atyid Shrimp Species in the Genus Paratya under Different Feeding Conditions.

Freshwater shrimps in the family Atyidae exhibit two life history traits: 1) amphidromy, with many small embryos hatching into planktotrophic larvae that develop in the sea, and 2) landlocked, with few large embryos hatching into non-feeding lecithotrophic larvae, or facultative lecithotrophic larvae that develop in freshwater. The lecithotrophy of larvae is considered an adaptation to limited food conditions in the freshwater environment. Furthermore, faster development and settlement behaviours that large larvae exhibit are considered adaptations that allow the larvae to stay in or near parental habitats in fast-flowing streams. We therefore hypothesized that the facultative lecithotrophic larvae of landlocked shrimps might better adapt to limited food conditions as their large body size develops, an adaptation to maintain habitat position in flowing streams, than do planktotrophic larvae of companion amphidromous species developing in the sea. To test this hypothesis, we compared the larval feeding habits and size of two closely related species in the genus Paratya: the amphidromous P. compressa, with planktotrophic larvae, and the landlocked P. improvisa, with facultative lecithotrophic larvae. Larvae were reared by being fed commercially preserved or cultured phytoplankton (Tetraselmis sp.) and cultured zooplankton rotifers. Paratya compressa larvae did not survive, but P. improvisa larvae did develop into the juvenile stage under poor feeding conditions with preserved Tetraselmis alone, supporting our hypothesis of the effects of different larval feeding habits in amphidromous and landlocked atyid shrimp species. Hatchlings were larger and larval duration was shorter in P. improvisa than in P. compressa. Paratya improvisa larvae exhibited settlement behaviour beginning with the early zoeal stage. Our results also highlighted the retention strategy by which landlocked P. improvisa larvae stay in or near parental habitats.