(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species shrimp, blue mud
Species Id M070004
Date 26 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - shrimp, blue mud
OTHER COMMON NAMES - blue mud shrimp, crawfish, mud prawns, ghost shrimp and mud shrimp
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Aquatic Crustaceans
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - ,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Crustacea,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Decapoda,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Callianassidae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Upogebia,
SPECIES AND SSP - pugettensis,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Upogebia pugettensis
AUTHORITY - Dana
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 17
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species shrimp, blue mud
Species Id M070004
Date 26 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Commercial
Commercial/bait
See Comments
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 17
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
Although the blue mud shrimp is harvested as bait along the entire west
coast of the United States, they are considered by some to be important
pests of commercial oyster-growing operations in the Pacific Northwest. They
are believed to destabilize the substrate, smother oysters with debris, and
drain off water (through their burrows) from diked oyster beds *17*.
Blue mud shrimp are harvested by commercial bait fishermen and recreational
fishermen in California, Oregon, and Washington *17*.
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species shrimp, blue mud
Species Id M070004
Date 26 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - AQUATIC
REFERENCES FOR HABITAT - 17
LAND USE -
Water
Bays and Estuaries
REFERENCES FOR LAND USE - 17
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Estuarine FL2
Estuarine FL3
Estuarine, intertidal FL2
Estuarine, intertidal FL3
REFERENCES FOR NWI - 17
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
This species is commonly found in intertidal areas of mixed sand and mud.
The blue mud shrimp lives in muddier areas than does the ghost shrimp.
Blue mud shrimp are common residents of eelgrass beds in the Pacific
Northwest *17*.
The blue mud shrimp lives in burrows in the intertidal sand or mudflats
of west coast bays and estuaries. Entrances are not as conspicuous as
those to burrows of the ghost shrimp. Blue mud shrimp have less
conspicuous, much smaller, or absent surrounding hills of sand
(at the entrances of their burrows)*17*.
ANIMAL/PLANT SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Goby: Clevelandia ios (c)
Pea crabs: Scleroplax granulata (c)
Clams: Pseudopythina rugifera, Cryptomya californica (c)
Copepods: Hemicyclops callianassae, Clausidium vancouverense (c)
Polynoid worms: Hesperonoe spp. (c)
Isopods: Phyllodurus abdominalis (p)
c = commensal
p = parasitic
REFERENCES FOR SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS - 17
COMMENTS ON SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
The blue mud shrimp is associated with a variety of commensal and parasitic
species *17*.
The blue mud shrimp can alter the physical characteristics of the habitat it
occupies and affect the composition of the intertidal infaunal community
*17*.
By aerating the subsurface sediment and digging burrows protected from most
predators, blue mud shrimp provide an environment attractive to commensals.
Commensal and parasitic species associated with these shrimp include a blind
goby, three species of pea crabs, two species of clams, a copepod, a shrimp,
polynoid worms, and isopods *17*.
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species shrimp, blue mud
Species Id M070004
Date 26 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
DETRITIVORE
FILTERER
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 17
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Detritus Not Applicable
General Plankton Not Applicable
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 17
COMMENTS ON FOOD -
The species feeds on detritus and plankton strained from seawater, which
it forces through the burrow by using its four pairs of swimmerets
(pleopods) *17*.
The blue mud shrimp is a suspension feeder, straining detrital particles and
plankton from seawater kept moving through its burrow by the action of its
swimmerets. To feed, the animal positions itself near a burrow entrance and
increases the movement of the swimmerets to increase the current of seawater
through the burrow. The third maxillipeds are used to periodically sweep
the food particles collected into the animal's mouth. Particles that are
too big are ejected *17*.
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species shrimp, blue mud
Species Id M070004
Date 26 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G
G Dissolved Oxygen: Specified in Comments
G Substrate: Mud or silt
G Substrate: Sand
G Substrate: Specified in Comments
G Relation to Substrate: Occurs in substrate [penetrating]
G Relation to Substrate: Specified in Comments
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Mud or silt
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Sand
G Aquatic Vegetation [specified type]: Specified in comments
G Soil Needs: Sand
G Soil Needs: Specified in Comments
G Soil Depth: 10-20 inches
G Coastal Features: Mudflats
G Human Association: Specified in Comments
G Estuarine habitat zone: bay
G Estuarine habitat zone: unknown
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 17
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
The blue mud shrimp lives in burrows in intertidal sand or mudflats of west
coast bays and estuaries *17*.
SUBSTRATE
The blue mud shrimp is found in intertidal areas of mixed sand and mud.
They are common residents of eelgrass beds in the Pacific Northwest *17*.
RELATION TO SUBSTRATE
Each pair inhabits a smooth-walled, permanent, branching burrow
extending about 45 cm (18 inches) below the surface *17*.
SALINITY
The blue mud shrimp tolerates salinities as low as 10% that of seawater and
regulates osmotically when salinity falls below 75% that of seawater *17*.
OXYGEN
Oxygen availability is no doubt a limiting factor for all intertidal
species, including the blue mud shrimp. In one study, measured oxygen
levels in burrows during ebb tide were occasionally zero. Under laboratory
conditions, the blue mud shrimp can survive anoxia (lack of oxygen) for 3.3
days, which is far longer than they would normally be subjected to anoxia
in the environment. Blue mud shrimp are able to lower their
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species shrimp, blue mud
Species Id M070004
Date 26 AUG 96
metabololic rate once oxygen levels become critically low *17*.
HUMAN ASSOCIATION
Harvested as bait both commercially and recreationally. Controlled with
pesticide in some states on commercial Japanese oyster grounds *17*.
Environment Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species shrimp, blue mud
Species Id M070004
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
MORPHOLOGY AND IDENTIFICATION AIDS
Comparing ghost shrimp (Callianassa californiensis) with the blue mud shrimp
(Upogebia pugettensis):
The head and thorax of the ghost and blue mud shrimps are united into a
cephalothorax. Like that of other arthropods, this cephalothorax is covered
by a carapace or exoskeleton of hard, chitinous material that is shed
(molted) periodically to allow for growth. The gills are located in special
chambers at the sides of the thorax under the carapace. The blue mud shrimp
has a large rostrum (forward extension of the carapace) and cylindrical eye
stalks; the ghost shrimp has no rostrum or a small one and flattened eye
stalks. Both have external mouthparts (maxillipeds) and antennae.
Hair-like structures cover much of the shrimps' bodies and serve such
functions as receiving sensory stiumli, obtaining food, cleaning self,
creating water currents, and cleaning and carrying eggs *17*.
Both shrimps have five pairs of thoracic legs (periopoda). The first pair
of legs may be slightly unequal and only somewhat pincerlike (subchelate),
and the rest, simple as in the blue mud shrimp; or, the first pair may be
very unequal and very pincerlike (chelate), the second pair also pincerlike,
and the fifth pair somewhat pincerlike as in the ghost shrimp. The
asymmetry of the first pair of legs characteristic of the ghost shrimp is
more pronounced in males, and the larger cheliped (pincer leg) may be on
either the left or the right side *17*.
Both shrimps have five pairs of leaflike abdominal appendages (pleopods) or
swimmerets. They also have flattened tail appendages (uropods) adapted for
swimming. The blue mud shrimp has a short, square telson (terminal
segment); the ghost shrimp has a longer, more pointed one *17*.
These two shrimps can be distinquished from each other on the basis of the
differences in the first pair of legs and color. The blue mud shrimp is
usually dirty blue-green and the ghost shrimp varies from white to pink,
red, and orange *17*.
HABITAT AND BEHAVIOR
Members of the blue mud shrimp species nearly always live in male-and-female
pairs. Each pair inhabits a smooth-walled, permanent, branching burrow
extending about 45 cm (18 inches) below the surface. The burrow generally
has several entrances, each about 1 cm (0.4 inches) in diameter. The
diameter of the tunnel beyond the opening is too narrow to allow the shrimp
to turn around. Consequently, specially enlarged chambers are required.
The smooth walls appear to be cemented with a secretion produced by the
shrimp. THe blue mud shrimp forms a "mud basket," with its first two pairs
of legs, which it uses as a scoop to transport mud and build its burrow, and
as a strainer to collect food. The third and fifth pairs of legs are used
for walking, and the fourth pair is braced against the burrow walls. The
tail-fan can be used to block the burrow tunnel so effectively that the flow
of water is stopped. This may possibly be a protective maneuver to ward off
attacks from the rear *17*.
REPRODUCTION
Blue mud shrimp females are known to be ovigerous in January, February, and
part of March, but larval development of this species has not been studied
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species shrimp, blue mud
Species Id M070004
Date 26 AUG 96
extensively *17*.
LIFE SPAN
The blue mud shrimp is believed to be relatively long-lived *17*.
GROWTH CHARTACTERISTICS
Typically, length of adults is 7.5-10 cm (3-4 inches) in the blue mud
shrimp. However, length may reach 15 cm (6 inches). The largest blue mud
shrimp found by one researcher were in the muddiest, least rocky areas *17*.
Blue mud shrimp take 3 or more years to mature and reproductive females
exceed 6 cm (2.4 inches) in length. Estimated growth in length averages
approximately 18-26 mm/yr (0.7-1.0 inches/yr). Blue mud shrimp densities in
Oregon estuaries range from 330 to 660/m^2 (1.3-2.7 million/acre). Biomass
sometimes exceeds 2.0 kg/m^2 (18,000 lb/acre (wet weight)) *17*.
PREDATORS
Mud shrimp are sometimes killed by the leopard shrak, Triakis semifasciata,
and by the brown smooth-hound shark, Mustelus henlei. The leopard shark,
whose range extends north to Oregon, apparently can shove or burrow into the
substrate to prey on benthic species *17*.
LIFE HISTORY CODES -
Foraging Strategy: Filtering
Foraging Sites: Underground burrows
Breeding/Spawning Season: January
Breeding/Spawning Season: February
Breeding/Spawning Season: March
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 17
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species shrimp, blue mud
Species Id M070004
Date 26 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Existing Applying insecticides
REFERENCES FOR EXISTING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 17
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
The blue mud shrimp can alter the physical characteristics of the habitat it
occupies and affect the composition of the intertidal infaunal community
*17*.
Although their effects on the environment are controversial in nature, the
blue mud shrimp appears to be an integral part of the nearshore
environments. And fortunately for the shrimp, their widespread distribution
should allow them to sustain their populations despite the current attempts
to eliminate them locally *17*.
THE FISHERY
Blue mud shrimp are harvested by commercial bait fishermen in California,
Oregon, and Washington *17*.
CONTROL
In the Pacific Northwest, attempts have been made to control the shrimp on
commercial Japanese oyster (Crassostrea gigas) grounds with the insecticide
Sevin (carbaryl). This pesticide has been used to control ghost and mud
shrimp in Washington since 1963, and although it has been used on oyster
grounds in Oregon, such use is currently unlawful there. Questions have been
raised about the effects of Sevin on other organisms, including the
commercially important Dungeness crab (Cancer magister), and on the
estuarine ecosystem as a whole *17*.
Although the blue mud shrimp is believed to disturb the sediment far less
extensively than the ghost shrimp, both have been the objects of control
programs *17*.
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species shrimp, blue mud
Species Id M070004
Date 26 AUG 96
References
17* Hornig, S., A. Sterling, S. Smith. 1989. Species Profiles: Life
Histories and Environmental Requirments of Coastal Fishes and
Invertebrates (Pacific Northwest)--Ghost Shrimp and Blue Mud
Shrimp. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biol. Rep. 82(11.93) pp 14.
References - 1