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This is a Quantitative Study study.

October 8, 2025Open Access

Assessing the upper thermal limit constraining the physiological performance of Callinectes sapidus embryogenesis under climate warming scenarios

ÁRÁngela Rodríguez-RuizInstituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía GCGustavo F. de Carvalho-SouzaAmerican Institute for Economic Research IHInma HerreraUniversidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Key Points

Embryonic development of callinectes sapidus is notably affected by increased temperatures, leading to reduced egg size.
Maximum ETS activity observed at elevated temperatures indicates significant metabolic stress on developing larvae.
Under oxygen- and capacity-limited thermal tolerance, a physiological pejus range impacts embryonic viability at 24–26 °C.
These findings underscore the crucial role of embryogenesis in predicting the invasive capacity of marine species under future climate scenarios.

Abstract

Embryonic development represents a vulnerable life stage in marine organisms, yet its role in shaping the invasion success of non-native species under climate change remains understudied. In this study, we assessed the upper thermal sensitivity of embryogenesis of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus , a globally invasive species, by quantifying their physiological responses across a temperature gradient relevant to projected climate warming scenarios. Using Electron Transport System (ETS) activity as a proxy for aerobic metabolism, we evaluated respiration, egg size, hatching time, and larval morphology in brooding eggs incubated at 22 °C, 24 °C, 26 °C, and 28 °C. Elevated temperatures induced increased ETS activity, indicating heightened metabolic stress, and were associated with reduced egg size and earlier hatching of malformed, non-viable larvae. Within the Oxygen- and Capacity-Limited Thermal Tolerance (OCLTT) framework, we identified a physiological pejus range (24–26 °C) beyond which embryonic performance declined. These results suggest that moderate warming may accelerate development and facilitate invasion, but extreme temperatures constrain aerobic capacity and compromise larval viability. Our results highlight embryogenesis as a potential bottleneck for blue crab recruitment under future warming, with implications for predicting the invasive potential of marine species.

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