Across their life cycles shrimp can be found across most aquatic habitats, from coastal and estuary seafloors, to rivers and lakes. While most are marine-dwelling, certain species have adapted to life in fresh water. Marine species can be found in waters up to 5,000m deep, and from polar to tropic regions.
Habitats and Their Benefits
1. During the Egg stage of the life cycle the principle habitat is the open ocean. The eggs are released deep into the water column when temperatures increase, in order to provide optimal hatching conditions. 2. As shrimp develop into the Nauplius and Protozoea Larval stages they have no control over their movements. As the currents begin to carry them toward the shore they feed on any food the come across in the open ocean. 3. As Mysis Larva the shrimp are carried further toward the shore as they continue to feed on zooplankton and phytoplankton. They respond to light by moving away from it, into deeper water, to remain out of predators sight. 4. The Postlarval, or Megalopa, stage takes place in brackish, estuary waters. Here the shrimp cling to the bottom, foraging for detritus, micro-algae, and micro-organisms to feed on as they develop swimming and walking legs. |
Habitats and Their Benefits Con't.
5. Juvenile shrimp also reside in an estuary. There are favorable shallow salty waters and an abundance of potential prey. As they continue to grow they make their way back to the sea. 6. As a Subadult the shrimp move back toward the sea where temperature and salinity stimulate growth and regulate migration between the estuary and the sea. They remain close to the estuary as it provides a safe habitat in case of drastic temperature or salinity changes, and there is still plenty of food to scavenge. 7. Finally an adult, the shrimp moves back out to gulf waters where they continue to grow as an opportunistic omnivore (eat any viable food they come across), or are claimed as the prey of other organisms. When the temperature increases, the female shrimp produce thousands of eggs, starting the cycle again. |
Sources
- The Life Cycle of a Shrimp. (2011, August 3). Retrieved January 11, 2016, from http://www.lsu.edu/seagrantfish/pdfs/shrimpcycle_info.pdf
- Shrimp Habitat. (2009). Retrieved January 12, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrimp#Habitat
- Picture of Penaeid shrimp life cycle. (1992). Retrieved January 11, 2016, from http://www.aquaculture.ugent.be/Education/coursematerial/online courses/shrimp-cd/bio/lc2.htm
- Ring PTO shrimp. (2011). Retrieved January 11, 2016, from http://mseafood.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=75
- Decapods - Prawns & Shrimp. (n.d.). Retrieved January 11, 2016, from http://www.mesa.edu.au/crustaceans/crustaceans05c.asp