Epibiotic protozoan communities on juvenile southern king crabs (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lithodes santolla</Emphasis>) from subantarctic areas

In this study, we describe for the first time the composition of epibiotic protozoan communities on juvenile southern king crabs Lithodes santolla. Basibionts were collected in subantarctic bays near Santa Ana Point (Magellan Strait, Chile). Seven epibiotic protozoan ciliates were found: Ephelota gemmipara, Ephelota gigantea, Podophrya fixa, Acineta tuberosa, Zoothamnium duplicatum, Chilodochona quennerstedti and Gymnodinioides sp. The mean number of epibionts per crab was 99 (maximum 897). Both Ephelota species were the most abundant and most widely distributed epibionts on the crab examined. The lengths of basibionts were correlated with the number of epibionts, indicating a relationship between the age of the crab and the state of epibiosis. Epibionts differed in their distribution patterns along the anteroposterior axis of the crab. Less abundant species tended to occupy sites that are not colonized by the predominant Ephelota species. Maxillipeds and pereiopods were most densely colonized by epibionts. The behaviours of epibionts and basibionts related to epibiosis are discussed. The recent studies about invasive lithodids in Antarctic areas enhance the interest for the epibiotic communities colonizing these crustaceans, which can illustrate changes in biodiversity and state of these environments.