Shared and Species-Specific Variation in Waterborne Chemical Cues Among Lysmata Shrimps with Contrasting Social Organizations

Waterborne chemical cues mediate reproductive interactions in decapod crustaceans, but interspecific variation in these cues remains poorly characterized. We compared behavioral responses and exploratory chromatographic profiles among four Lysmata species with contrasting social organizations: L. amboinensis, L. boggessi, L. debelius, and L. pederseni. Intermolt euhermaphrodite-phase (EP) focal shrimp were tested with conspecific and heterospecific postmolt EP-conditioned water, uridine-5′-triphosphate (UTP), uridine-5′-diphosphate (UDP), and seawater control. Conspecific conditioned water generally elicited the strongest responses, whereas response magnitude and type differed among species. UTP elicited the defined approach and follow response only in L. boggessi. UDP elicited no behavioral response in any species. Exploratory HPLC of one pooled composite conditioned-water sample per species revealed peaks at 17.01 and 24.29 min, with retention characteristics consistent with UDP and UTP standards, respectively. Two additional peaks at approximately 30.81 and 41.10 min were visually apparent in the pooled chromatograms of L. amboinensis, L. debelius, and L. pederseni. These results demonstrate interspecific differences in behavioral responsiveness and identify chromatographic features that warrant future testing with structural chemical identification.