Ultrastructure of spermatozoa and reproductive traits of caridean shrimps from the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico: Filling gaps in relation to the Brazilian carcinofauna

• Grant number: 25/03921-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Morphology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Jose Zara
• Grantee: Caio dos Santos Nogueira
• Supervisor: Fernando Nuno Dias Marques Simoes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad Nacional Autónoma De México, Campus Sisal, Mexico
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/01445-8 - Ultrastructure of spermatozoa of the caridean shrimps of Brazil: a modern taxonomic approach through morphological and phylogenetic integration, BP.PD

Abstract

Spermiotaxonomy has become an essential taxonomic tool for elucidating the evolution of decapods, such as caridean shrimps, a highly diverse group that remains understudied from this perspective. This internship abroad aims to fill sampling gaps, particularly for species inhabiting deep-sea regions, and to complement the ongoing research project in Brazil (PD FAPESP #2023/01445-8). The sampling will be conducted in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, covering marine, anchialine, and freshwater environments. Collections will take place at various sites within the peninsula, in the Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican Caribbean, using different active search methods. The ultrastructural analysis of spermatozoa will be carried out at the electron microscopy unity (UME) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). In addition to spermatozoa ultrastructure, the project will investigate reproductive traits, including fecundity and reproductive output, to better understand the evolutionary and ecological patterns of the sampled species. The inclusion of new species and genera will allow for the evaluation of whether spermatozoa ultrastructural traits are recurrent or specific within the studied families. With this integrative approach, incorporating organisms collected in Mexico into the dataset obtained in Brazil, the study's scientific impact and scope are expected to be significantly enhanced, providing a robust database for future research on the diversity and evolution of caridean shrimps. Thus, this internship abroad project will make a substantial contribution to the fellow's ongoing research in Brazil.