Abstract

BAUER, Raymond T. Hermafroditismo en camarones: El sistema sexual y su relación con atributos socioecológicos. INCI [online]. 2001, vol.26, n.10, pp.434-439. ISSN 0378-1844.

An important question in reproductive ecology is: why are there separate sexes in some species but hermaphroditism in others? The focus of this paper is on a recently-described sexual system, protandric simultaneous hermaphroditism (PSH), in cleaner shrimps of the genus Lysmata. An individual first matures in a male phase (MP) but later changes to a female phase (FP). Although an FP produces embryos like a female, it also retains the male ducts and produces sperm. The FPs are simultaneous hermaphrodites that can copulate like males and fertilize other FP’s but they cannot self-fertilize. It is possible that the size (age) of change from MP to FP is dependent on the relative abundance of MPs and FPs in the population (environmental sex determination). Given the variation in socioecological attributes in Lysmata, it is difficult to propose a single selective pressure that explains the evolution of PSH. A hypothesis is proposed based on evolutionary history. It is suggested that PSH does not occur in other caridean groups because it evolved under unique circumstances in Lysmata ("historical contingency"). In order to understand this rare sexual system, it will be necessary to study in detail the ecology, behavior and phylogeny of Lysmata.

Keywords : Cambio de Sexo ; Carideo ; Hermafroditismo ; Lysmata .