The Biology of Upogebia pusilla (PETAGNA) (Decapoda, Thalassinidea)

Abstract. The distribution of the thalassinidean shrimp Upogebia pusilla was studied at four sites in the North Adriatic Sea: 1) a tidal flat in the lagoon of Grado, 2) a tidal flat at Lido di Staranzano near the mouth of the Isonzo, 3) a mud flat seawards of a salt marsh in a protected bay north of Rovinj, and 4) a sublittoral station in 6m depth near Aurisina. Information on grain size distribution, organic content, amount of debris, redox profiles and pH of sediment as well as temperature and salinity is given. Density, as determined by hole counts and a hole: burrow relationship derived from resin casting, generally increased with increasing water depth in the intertidal. The upper limits ranged between +10cm (Rovinj) and -20cm (Grado); densities between mean water and low water level varied strongly due to microtopography and macrophyte cover. Maximum densities in the intertidal ranged from 189 (Grado) to 2420 (Rovinj, juveniles) animals m². Shrimp density at the sublittoral station ranged between 80 and 230 m"². The zonation of the Upogebiidae and Callianassidae with respect to environmental parameters is discussed.