Seasonal Composition and Abundance of Megalopae in Zooplanktonic Samples from Indus Deltaic Area, Sindh

Year 2025, Volume: 12 Issue: 4, 425 - 431, 12.01.2026

Qadeer Mohammad Ali , Urwah Inam Quratulan Ahmed , Ateeqa Baloch , Levent Bat

https://doi.org/10.26650/ijegeo.1815644

Abstract

Zooplankton occupies a crucial position in aquatic ecosystems, significantly contributing in global biogeochemical cycles, they support all aquatic ecosystems by supplying the energy from lower to higher trophic level. Crustacean larvae, including brachyuran crab larvae, play a vital role in zooplankton communities, contributing significantly to the ecological dynamics of pelagic ecosystems. No work has been done on occurrence and abundance on magalopae form the zooplankton samples from three major creeks (Shahbandar, Ketibandar and Korangi creeks) Indus deltaic area, thus the aim of this study to fills a knowledge gap by investigating megalopae. Occurrence and abundance, enhancing scientific understanding and supporting future taxonomic and biological studies. The percentage compositions of megalops from Shahbandar (0.026%), Ketibandar (0.004%) and Korangi (0.003%) were measured. Nine families (Portunidae, Dotillidae, Pinnotheridae, Grapsidae, Varunidae, Macropthalmidae, Pinnotheridae, Pilumnidae and Drodmidae) megalopae were collected. This study will be useful for future biologist and offers significant contributions to the field of biology, and this study fills a knowledge gap by investigating megalopae occurrence and abundance, enhancing scientific understanding and supporting future taxonomic and biological studies.

Keywords

Megalopae , variation , Brachyura , Crustacea , Indus delta , Sindh , Arabian Sea

Ethical Statement

No any issue

References

• Alcock, A. (1900). Material for a carcinological fauna of India. No. 6: The Brachyura Catometopa, or Grapsoidea. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 69(2), 279–456.
• Diaz, R. J., Rosenberg, R. (1995). Marine benthic hypoxia: a review of its ecological effects and the behavioural responses of benthic macrofauna. Oceanography and marine biology.An annual review, 33, 245-303.
• Epifanio, C. E., Little, K. T., Rowe, P. M. (1988). Dispersal and recruitment of fiddler crab larvae in the Delaware River estuary. Marine ecology progress series. Oldendorf, 43(1), 181-188.
• Ghory, F. S., and Siddiqui, F. A. (2008). Description of Leucosiidae (Crustacea: Brachyura) larval stages collected from the Manora Channel, Pakistan, during 1993-1995. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 40(5), 353-363.
• Ghory, F. S., Siddiqui, F. A. (2002). Occurrence and abundance of brachyuran larvae in the Manora Channel (Karachi, Pakistan) during 1993. Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, 11(1&2), 27-36.
• Ghory, F. S., Siddiqui, F. A. (2006). Percentage composition of different brachyuran larvae collected during 1994 in Manora Channel (Karachi, Pakistan). Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, 15(1), 119-130.
• Ghory, F. S., Siddiqui, F. A. (2007). Distributional patterns of brachyuran larvae in Manora Channel (Karachi, Pakistan) collected during 1995. Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, 16(1), 49–68.
• Ghory, F.S., Kazmi, Q. B., & Siddiqui, F. (2018). Redescription of the complete developmental stages of Pilumnopeus convexus (Maccagno, 1936) (described as Pilumnus sp.) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Pilumnidae). International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies, 5 (3), 193-202.
• Ghory, F.S., Siddiqui, F.A. (2000). The complete larval development of Pilumnus sp. (Decapoda: Brachyura, Pilumnidae) reared under laboratory conditions. In: Proceedings of National Symposium on Arabian Sea as a Resource of Biological Diversity, 207-227.
• Hashmi, S. S. (1969). Studies on larval Ocypodidae (Macrophthalmus) hatched in the laboratory (Decapoda: Crustacea). Pakistan Journal of Science and Research, 21, 42-54.
• Hashmi, S. S. (1970a). The larvae of Elamena (Hymenosomidae) and Pinnotheres (Pinnotheridae) hatched in the laboratory (Decapoda: Crustacea). Pakistan Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 12, 212-278.
• Hashmi, S. S. (1970b). The brachyuran larvae of west Pakistan hatched in the laboratory (Decapoda: Crustacea). Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 2 (1), 81-93.
• Hornell, J., Southwell, T. (1909). Description of a new species of Pinnotheres from Placuna placenta, with a note on the genus. In: Hornell, J. (Ed.), Report to the Government of Baroda on the Marine Zoology of Okhamandal in Kattiawar. With supplementary reports on special groups by other zoologists. Part I. Williams and Norgate, London, 99–103.
• Inam, U., Ali, Q. M., Ahmed, Q., Bat, L. (2023). Morphological description of megalopal stages of three Portunid species (Decapoda, 2 Brachyura, Portunidae) from Indus deltaic area (northern-Arabian Sea). Natural and Engineering Sciences, 8(1), 46-60.
• Jha, P., Barat, S.(2003). Hydrobiological study of Lake Mirik in Darjeeling Himalayas. Journal of Environmental Biology, 24(3), 339-344.
• Latreille, P. A. (1803). Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière, des crustacés et des insectes. Ouvrage faisant suite aux œuvres de Leclerc de Buffon, et partie du cours complet d’histoire naturelle rédigé par C. S. Sonnini. Paris, F. Dufart, 6, 1–391, pls. 44–57.
• Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae (Stockholm), 1(10), [iii], 824 p.
• Luppi, T. A., Spivak, E. D., Bas, C. C. (2003). The effects of temperature and salinity on larval development of Armases rubripes Rathbun, 1897 (Brachyura, Grapsoidea, Sesarmidae), and the southern limit of its geographical distribution. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 58(3), 575-585.
• Milne Edwards, H. (1852). Observations sur les affinités zoologiques et la classification naturelle des crustacés. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Zoologie, Série 3, 18, 109–166, pls. 3–4.
• MK, A. H., Idris, M. H., Johan, I., Nesarul, N. H., Aysha, A., Islam, M. S. (2016). Seasonal distribution of zooplankton composition and abundance in a sub-tropical mangrove and salt marsh estuary. Malaysian Journal of Science, 35(2), 275-289.
• Mwaluma, J., Osore, M., Kamau, J., Wawiye, P. (2003). Composition, abundance and seasonality of zooplankton in Mida Creek, Kenya. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science, 2(2), 147-155.
• Newell, G.E., Newell, R.C. (1977).Marine Plankton a Practical guide. 5th Ed.Hutchinson & Co. (Publishers) Ltd. 244 p.
• Owen, R. (1839). In: Beechey, F. W., The Zoology of Captain Beechey’s Voyage; Compiled from the collections and notes made by Captain Beechey, the officers and naturalists of the expedition, during a voyage to the Pacific and Behring Straits performed in His Majesty’s Ship Blossom, under the command of Captain F. W. Beechey, R.N., F.R.S., &c, in the years 1825, 26, 27 and 28, 77–97, pls. 24–28. London.
• Paula, J., Dray, T., Nogueira Mendes, R., Bartilotti, C., Macia, A., Queiroga, H. (2000). Larval fluxes at Saco mangrove creek, Inhaca island (south Mozambique). In: Vannini M (ed)Macrobenthos of Eastern African mangroves: life cycles and reproductive biology of exploited species, Final Report ERBIC18-CT96-0127, Part B, Florence. University of Florence, Florence, p. 97-111.
• Pessani, D., Tirelli, T., Flagella, S. (2004). Key for the identification of mediterranean brachyuran megalopae. Mediterranean Marine Science, 5(2), 53 64. https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.203.
• Pestana, D., Ostrensky, A. (1995). Occurrence of an alternative pathway in the larval development of the crab Chasmagnathus granulata Dana, 1851 under laboratory conditions. Hydrobiologia, 306(1), 33-40. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007856
• Pinel-Alloul, B., Downing, J. A., Perusse, M., Codin-Blumer, G. (1988). Spatial heterogeneity in freshwater zooplankton: variation with body size, depth, and scale. Ecology, 69(5), 1393-1400. https://doi.org/10.2307/1941636
• Rüppell, E. (1830). Beschreibung und Abbildung von 24 Arten kurzschwänzigen Krabben, als Beitrag zur Naturgeschichte des rothen Meeres. H. L. Brönner, Frankfurt am Main, 28 pp.
• Shirley, S. M., Shirley, T. C., Rice, S. D. (1987). Latitudinal variation in the Dungeness crab. Cancer magister, zoeal morphology explained by incubation temperature. Marine Biology, 95, 371-376. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409567
• Siddiqui, F. A., Tirmizi, N. M. (1992). The complete larval development, including the first crab stage of Pilumnus kampi Deb, 1987 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Pilumnidae) reared in the laboratory. TheRafles Bulletin of Zoology, 40 (2), 229- 244.
• Stimpson, W. (1858). Prodromus descriptionis animalium evertebratorum, quæ in expeditione ad Oceanum Pacificum Septentrionalem, a Republica Federata missa, Cadwaladaro Ringgold et Johanne Rodgers ducibus, observavit et descripsit W. Stimpson. Pars IV. Crustacea Cancroidea et Corystoidea. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 10, 31–40.
• Tirmizi, N. M., Siddiqui F. A., Amir, N. (1993). Distribution of brachyuran larvae collected by R.V. Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, 1977 (Cruises 1, 2) from coastal waters of Pakistan. In: (Ed.) N.M. Tirmizi and Q.B. Kazmi Proceedings of National Seminar on Study and Management in Coastal Zones in Pakistan. MRC and UNESCO, Karachi, 181-188.
• Weber, F. (1795). Nomenclator entomologicus secundum Entomologiam systematicum ill. Fabricii adjectis speciebus recens detectis et varietatibus. Chilonii et Hamburgii, i–viii, 1–171.
• Weiss, H. M. (2017). Keys to the larvae of common decapod crustaceans (lobsters, crabs and shrimp) in Long Island Sound. https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/44213/noaa_44213_DS1.pdf
• Welch, J. M., Rittschof, D., Bullock, D. M., Forward, R. B., Jr. (1997). Effects of chemical cues on the settlement behavior of blue crab Callinectes sapidus post larvae. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 154, 143-153. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps154143
• Zeng, C. (2007). Induced out-of-season spawning of the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain (Estampador) and effects of temperature on embryo development. Aquaculture Research, 38(14), 1478-1485. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2109.2007.01826.x