Influence of temperature on growth and reproduction of keystone species, Crangon hakodatei (Caridea, Crangonidae) in the East Sea of Korea

The rapid rise in temperature due to climate change has raised concerns about its impact on the keystone species Crangon hakodatei in the East Sea of Korea. However, no studies have examined the population characteristics of C. hakodatei or its response to temperature change along the coast. In this study, we investigated these aspects using year-round sampling of C. hakodatei and environmental data collected along the east coast of South Korea. A positive correlation was observed between shrimp abundance and temperature. Specifically, both the growth and reproductive characteristics of C. hakodatei were affected by temperature variations. Females and males grew more slowly during the spawning season and cold periods, respectively. Notably, primary breeding, with the highest participation of females, occurred during the coldest periods in the East Sea. Overall, these results warn of a climate crisis leading to a reduced abundance of keystone species in Korean coastal waters.