Diversity, biomass and production of decapod crustacean larvae in a changing environment

Abstract

There is a latitudinal gradient in the species richness of Decapoda with pelagic larvae. For example, only two species of Brachyura are found around Svalbard, 54 species are known from the English Channel and ~100 from the Atlantic coast of the Iberian peninsula. The distributions of many species are limited by effects of temperature. Intermoult times of larvae are inversely related to temperature. In the field the size of larvae is inversely related to temperature, the relationship tending to increase in significance in successive larval stages. The timing of the seasonal occurrence of larvae of decapod species in the plankton is also related to temperature, to a greater extent than are seasonal cycles of the holoplankton. These effects of temperature on larval development influence the biomass and production of the larvae in the plankton. Some potential effects of climate change on the distributions and dynamics of planktonic larvae of decapods and consequent changes in their diversity, biomass and production can be predicted insofar as temperature is a limiting factor.