Arrested development and increased incidence of sandprawn embryonic aberrations along an intertidal human recreation gradient
Abstract Anthropogenic pressures are increasing in coastal ecosystems globally, yet identifying robust indicators of change and managing coastal resources can be complicated by phenotypic plasticity and differential life-history responses of key organisms. We illustrate this using biogeochemical and...
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Nature Portfolio
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78149-0 |
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| author | K. A. Madell U. M. Scharler C. Savage A. M. L. Karlson D. Pillay |
| author_facet | K. A. Madell U. M. Scharler C. Savage A. M. L. Karlson D. Pillay |
| author_sort | K. A. Madell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Anthropogenic pressures are increasing in coastal ecosystems globally, yet identifying robust indicators of change and managing coastal resources can be complicated by phenotypic plasticity and differential life-history responses of key organisms. We illustrate this using biogeochemical and sandprawn (Kraussillichirus kraussi) response metrics along a human recreation gradient (trampling, sandprawn harvesting) in a South African lagoonal ecosystem. Benthic compaction, oxygen depletion and high porewater ammonia concentrations were associated with greatest recreation intensity. Sandprawn abundance was similar across the recreation gradient and body condition was counter-intuitively greater in areas with maximum recreation, but with higher frequencies of embryonic aberrations and arrested development. These findings suggest different vulnerabilities of life-history stages of sandprawns to recreation, with embryonic stages being highly susceptible. We suggest that embryonic aberrations and developmental changes in endobenthic crustaceans may be sensitive bioindicators of recreation-induced changes in sedimentary systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-774264f8ee7a4d66a8ae7765c873fc5b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-774264f8ee7a4d66a8ae7765c873fc5b2025-08-20T02:13:27ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111710.1038/s41598-024-78149-0Arrested development and increased incidence of sandprawn embryonic aberrations along an intertidal human recreation gradientK. A. Madell0U. M. Scharler1C. Savage2A. M. L. Karlson3D. Pillay4Marine & Antarctic Research Centre for Innovation & Sustainability, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape TownSchool of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-NatalMarine & Antarctic Research Centre for Innovation & Sustainability, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape TownDepartment of Ecology, Environment and Plant Science, Stockholm UniversityMarine & Antarctic Research Centre for Innovation & Sustainability, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape TownAbstract Anthropogenic pressures are increasing in coastal ecosystems globally, yet identifying robust indicators of change and managing coastal resources can be complicated by phenotypic plasticity and differential life-history responses of key organisms. We illustrate this using biogeochemical and sandprawn (Kraussillichirus kraussi) response metrics along a human recreation gradient (trampling, sandprawn harvesting) in a South African lagoonal ecosystem. Benthic compaction, oxygen depletion and high porewater ammonia concentrations were associated with greatest recreation intensity. Sandprawn abundance was similar across the recreation gradient and body condition was counter-intuitively greater in areas with maximum recreation, but with higher frequencies of embryonic aberrations and arrested development. These findings suggest different vulnerabilities of life-history stages of sandprawns to recreation, with embryonic stages being highly susceptible. We suggest that embryonic aberrations and developmental changes in endobenthic crustaceans may be sensitive bioindicators of recreation-induced changes in sedimentary systems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78149-0 |
| spellingShingle | K. A. Madell U. M. Scharler C. Savage A. M. L. Karlson D. Pillay Arrested development and increased incidence of sandprawn embryonic aberrations along an intertidal human recreation gradient Scientific Reports |
| title | Arrested development and increased incidence of sandprawn embryonic aberrations along an intertidal human recreation gradient |
| title_full | Arrested development and increased incidence of sandprawn embryonic aberrations along an intertidal human recreation gradient |
| title_fullStr | Arrested development and increased incidence of sandprawn embryonic aberrations along an intertidal human recreation gradient |
| title_full_unstemmed | Arrested development and increased incidence of sandprawn embryonic aberrations along an intertidal human recreation gradient |
| title_short | Arrested development and increased incidence of sandprawn embryonic aberrations along an intertidal human recreation gradient |
| title_sort | arrested development and increased incidence of sandprawn embryonic aberrations along an intertidal human recreation gradient |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78149-0 |
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