Palaemon paludosus explained

Palaemonetes paludosus, commonly known as ghost shrimp, glass shrimp, and eastern grass shrimp,[1] is a species of freshwater shrimp from the southeastern United States. They can be considered a keystone species based on the services they provide to their habitat. They are also popular in the domestic aquarium business. [2]

Description

Palaemon paludosus is up to 2.5cm (01inches) long and largely transparent. By manipulating the pigment granules in its body, it can produce effective camouflage against its background.[3] It is very similar to P. kadiakensis, from which it can be distinguished by the arrangement of spines on the telson.

Distribution

Palaemon paludosus is common in southern states east of the Appalachian Mountains. It is also found in Louisiana, where it may not be native, and there are scattered records from further west, in Texas and California.[4] Their distribution is due to decreased susceptibility to predation because of complexity in higher habitats in Polygonum beds.[5]

Ecology

Palaemon paludosus lives in fresh water or slightly brackish water, usually in lakes.[4] It is nocturnal, remaining hidden among the vegetation by day, and emerging at night to feed on plankton.[3] It is an important prey item for a number of birds and fishes,[6] such as black bass, and may be considered a keystone species.[7] They reproduce sexually and will die after the spawning season is complete.[8] They are also used as host by a parasitic isopod, Probopyrus pandalicola, that makes the female shrimps sterile and effects the growth of the male's sex characteristics.

Palaemon paludosus reproduces sexually, having gendered individuals. They are a polygynous species, meaning the males will mate with more than one female. There are typically more females than males in wild populations with 0.78 males for every female.[9] Reproduction is the completion of their life cycle with individuals dying after spawning season is complete. Breeding seasons varies depending on the temperature of the water. A female shrimp is able to lay up to 85 eggs per clutch.

Diet and Behavior

Palaemon paludosus are omnivores that mainly consume algae and aquatic insects along with various species of diatoms such as Fragilaria and Nivicula. They do most of their feeding at night as they are nocturnal.

Economics

Palaemon paludosus is a common aquarium pet due to their unique appearance. They are recommended for those just starting their aquariums since they are relatively easy to take care of and will keep the tank algae free. Along with eating algae they will eat whatever has been feed to the animals kept in the tank as well. For the shrimp's sake it is recommended to keep a group of them, a group of up to 20 individuals can be healthy fit in a 5-gallon tank. Although the ideal ratio of shrimp to tank size in gallons is about 3 shrimps per gallon.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Baranowski . Chelsea . Palaemonetes paludosus (riverine grass shrimp) . 2023-11-17 . Animal Diversity Web . en.
  2. Web site: Laboratory . Fish . 2022-05-16 . Ghost Shrimp (Palaemonetes Paludosus): Ultimate Care Guide - Fish Laboratory . 2023-11-17 . en-US.
  3. Book: Doug Stamm . 2008 . The Springs of Florida . 2nd . . 978-1-56164-422-3 . Appendix A. More about springs inhabitants . 93–108 .
  4. Book: Jerry G. Walls . 2009 . Crawfishes of Louisiana . Louisiana State University. 978-0-8071-3409-2 . Appendix 2. Freshwater shrimp in Louisiana . 216–224 .
  5. Distribution, diel movement, and growth of the grass shrimp Palaemonetes paludosus in the Kissimmee River-floodplain ecosystem, Florida. K.J.. Wessell. R.W.. Merritt. K.W.. Cummins. 2001. Annales de Limnologie - International Journal of Limnology. 37. 2. 85-95. 10.1051/limn/2001012. free.
  6. Book: Martin Richard Perrow . Anthony J. Davy . 2003 . Handbook of Ecological Restoration, Volume 2 . . 978-0-521-79128-1 . John S. Richardson . Michael J. Jackson . amp . Aquatic invertebrates . 300–323 .
  7. Book: Darold P. Batzer . Russell Ben Rader . Scott A. Wissinger . 1999 . Invertebrates in Freshwater Wetlands of North America: Ecology and Management . . 978-0-471-29258-6 . Richard W. Merritt . Michael J. Higgins . Kenneth W. Cummins . Brigitte Vandeneeden . amp . The Kissimmee River–riparian marsh ecosystem, Florida. Seasonal differences in invertebrate functional feeding group relationships . 55–80 .
  8. Web site: Eastern grass shrimp (Palaemonetes paludosus) - Species Profile . 2023-10-11 . USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database . en.
  9. Beck . J. Thomas . Cowell . Bruce C. . 1976 . Life History and Ecology of the Freshwater Caridean Shrimp, Palaemonetes paludosus (Gibbes) . The American Midland Naturalist . 96 . 1 . 52–65 . 10.2307/2424567 . 0003-0031.