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Life history strategy of a southern European population of brown shrimp (Crangon crangon L.): evidence for latitudinal changes in growth phenology and population dynamics

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Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive examination of the life cycle dynamics of the brown shrimp (Crangon crangon L.) in the Mondego estuary, Portugal, a habitat located near the southern edge of the range of this species in European waters. The phenology of all life stages was documented (from the occurrence of ovigerous females, developing embryos, planktonic larvae and benthic post-larvae), and migration patterns of larvae into and out of the estuary were examined. Temperature-dependent functions of egg and larval development were combined with data on field abundance to predict the timing and magnitude of occurrence of larvae and recruits. Compared to brown shrimp at higher latitudes, southern conspecifics grow slower, mature earlier and have smaller brood sizes, and larvae have a more protracted settlement period. The Mondego estuary, besides acting as nursery area, is a dynamic platform for C. crangon to use in different stages, sizes and seasons.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank all colleagues who assisted in the fieldwork and to Dr. John G. Jones for the final revision of the manuscript. The two anonymous referees and Dr. Myron Peck are also acknowledged for contributing greatly to the final manuscript. This work was supported by “Instituto de Investigação Interdisciplinar—Universidade de Coimbra” (III-UC) through the research Project “Os recursos pesqueiros no âmbito da política europeia de desenvolvimento sustentável: uma abordagem interdisciplinar para o caso do robalo (Dicentrarchus labrax)” (III/AMB/4/2005).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CFE—Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401, Coimbra, Portugal

    Ivan Viegas, Sónia Cotrim Marques, Ana Lígia Primo, Filipe Martinho, Ulisses Miranda Azeiteiro & Miguel Ângelo Pardal

  2. IMAR-Institute of Marine Research, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517, Coimbra, Portugal

    Filipa Bessa

  3. Department of Science and Technology, Universidade Aberta, 4200-055, Porto, Portugal

    Ulisses Miranda Azeiteiro

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  1. Ivan Viegas
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  2. Sónia Cotrim Marques
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  3. Filipa Bessa
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  4. Ana Lígia Primo
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  5. Filipe Martinho
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  7. Miguel Ângelo Pardal
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Correspondence to Ivan Viegas.

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Communicated by M. A. Peck.

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Viegas, I., Marques, S.C., Bessa, F. et al. Life history strategy of a southern European population of brown shrimp (Crangon crangon L.): evidence for latitudinal changes in growth phenology and population dynamics. Mar Biol 159, 33–43 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-011-1787-3

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