DISCUSSION
The larval stages of estuarine species, especially the megalopa, encounter a changing estuarine environment, especially in salinity, when migrating back to parental areas. Although their survival can physiologically be similar to the previous stages, the acceleration of the moulting process with a lowering in salinity can account for increasing survival. Several studies, however, refer to plasticity in the timing of moult for late larval stages (Sulkin & Van Heukelem, 1986; O’Connor, 1991), which can be an adaptation to the variability of coastal waters encountered by megalopae when returning to appropriate settlement areas.
In P. catenata, the optimal development was found at normal sea water salinity, but with a higher tolerance for increased salinity. The duration of larval development is shorter at higher than at lower temperatures. This could be an adaptation to summer conditions in coastal systems, such as the Mgazana estuary. This estuary is stratified at the mouth with marine conditions (Branch & Grindley, 1979), and during summer, the temperature is around 21 ºC and salinity around 32 ‰ at the bottom of the estuary. Adult populations of Parasesarma inhabit the lower estuarine region, and the species has lower tolerance to decreasing salinity (Boltt & Heeg, 1975) than other sesarmid species
DISCUSSION
The larval stages of estuarine species, especially the megalopa, encounter a changing estuarine environment, especially in salinity, when migrating back to parental areas. Although their survival can physiologically be similar to the previous stages, the acceleration of the moulting process with a lowering in salinity can account for increasing survival. Several studies, however, refer to plasticity in the timing of moult for late larval stages (Sulkin & Van Heukelem, 1986; O’Connor, 1991), which can be an adaptation to the variability of coastal waters encountered by megalopae when returning to appropriate settlement areas.
In P. catenata, the optimal development was found at normal sea water salinity, but with a higher tolerance for increased salinity. The duration of larval development is shorter at higher than at lower temperatures. This could be an adaptation to summer conditions in coastal systems, such as the Mgazana estuary. This estuary is stratified at the mouth with marine conditions (Branch & Grindley, 1979), and during summer, the temperature is around 21 ºC and salinity around 32 ‰ at the bottom of the estuary. Adult populations of Parasesarma inhabit the lower estuarine region, and the species has lower tolerance to decreasing salinity (Boltt & Heeg, 1975) than other sesarmid species
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