Noise Effect on Female Gonad Investment in the Burrowing Crab Neohelice granulata

Abstract

Female reproductive investment refers to the energy reserves and expenditure allocated to the development of the gonads, i.e., the ovaries, involved in the production of the oocytes, the female gamete. Energy reserves (such as glycogen, lipids and proteins) are stored in different organs (mainly the hepatopancreas of crabs) and are mobilized to the ovaries to meet their reproductive demands and development. One common stressor for aquatic organisms is the anthropogenic noise. Some studies have evaluated the negative effects of human noise on the behavior and physiology of invertebrates,although its effects on the gonad development, and consequently on offspring fitness, have been poorly addressed. The present study involves a laboratory study evaluating the effects of boat noise on the female gonad reproductive investment in the key crab species Neohelice granulata (Brachyura, Varunidae) inhabiting a coastal wetland lagoon that con-forms an MAB-UNESCO reserve in Argentina (Buenos Aires Province). Prelim-inary findings show a tendency of the main reserves to diminish in some tissues (glycogen in ovaries and hepatopancreas, and lipids in ovaries and muscle), which might indicate a negative effect on ovary maturation, thus potentially affecting the brood develo pmental and survival. The results are especially impor-tant considering the ecolog icalroleofthespeciesandthehabitat.Female reproductive investment refers to the energy reserves and expenditure allocated to the development of the gonads, i.e., the ovaries, involved in the production of the oocytes, the female gamete. Energy reserves (such as glycogen, lipids and proteins) are stored in different organs (mainly the hepatopancreas of crabs) and are mobilized to the ovaries to meet their reproductive demands and development. One common stressor for aquatic organisms is the anthropogenic noise. Some studies have evaluated the negative effects of human noise on the behavior and physiology of invertebrates, although its effects on the gonad development, and consequently on offspring fitness, have been poorly addressed. The present study involves a laboratory study evaluating the effects of boat noise on the female gonad reproductive investment in the key crab species Neohelice granulata (Brachyura, Varunidae) inhabiting a coastal wetland lagoon that conforms an MAB-UNESCO reserve in Argentina (Buenos Aires Province). Preliminary findings show a tendency of the main reserves to diminish in some tissues (glycogen in ovaries and hepatopancreas, and lipids in ovaries and muscle), which might indicate a negative effect on ovary maturation, thus potentially affecting the brood developmental and survival. The results are especially important considering the ecological role of the species and the habitat.