BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Neomysis integer

Researched by

Georgina Budd

Data supplied by

MarLIN

Refereed by

This information is not refereed.

Reproduction/Life History

Reproductive type

Gonochoristic

Developmental mechanism

Ovoviviparous

Reproductive Season

Spring to Autumn

Reproductive Location

As adult

Reproductive frequency

Annual protracted

Regeneration potential

Life span

<1 year

Age at reproductive maturity

<1 year

Generation time

<1 year

Fecundity

Up to ca 50

Egg/propagule size

Insufficient information

Fertilization type

Insufficient information

Larvae/Juveniles
Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential	100-1000m	Larval settlement period	Not relevant
Duration of larval stage	Not relevant

Reproduction Preferences Additional Information

The life history and biology of Neomysis integer differs slightly between localities (Mees et al., 1994; Astthorsson, 1980; Parker & West, 1979; Mauchline, 1971; Ralph, 1965; Kinne, 1955; Vorstman, 1951). Apparently the local environmental factors, especially temperature, have an influential role in determining the duration of the breeding season and the number of generations produced per year. Typically there are three generations per year.
For instance, in a population from Loch Etive, studied by Mauchline (1971), the over-wintering members consisted predominantly of juveniles and immature males and females. Once mature they began an intensive period of breeding in the spring. The spring generation matured rapidly and bred during late June and early July, which consequently produced a third generation in the autumn. These intensive periods of breeding were set against a background of continuous breeding throughout the year, so that discrete generations were not evident, but modal age groups within the population could be traced over weeks, or in the case of the over-wintering population, a few months.
However, outside periods of intensive breeding the recruitment rate was lower: < 1% of females carried eggs and broods were smaller. Brood size in mysid shrimps has been found to be related to female body length and season (Mauchline, 1971). A winter brood of Neomysis integer from Loch Etive consisted of between 10-25 juveniles compared to 20-50 in the summer.
In contrast, to the population of Neomysis integer from Loch Etive, a population from the Ythan estuary on the east coast of Scotland studied by Astthorsson (1980), produced only two generations per year with a complete cessation of breeding during winter. Temperature differences between the two locations were implicated as the Ythan estuary had a much lower summer maximum temperature than Loch Etive (17°C cf. 20°C; Leach, 1971; Gage, 1974).

Reproduction References

Makings, 1977, Mauchline, 1971, Astthorsson, 1980, Vorstman, 1951, Ralph, 1965, Parker & West, 1979, Kinne, 1955, Mees et al., 1994, Gage, 1974, Leach, 1971,