Through phylogenetic analysis based on molecular and morphological characters of selected groups of shrimps in combination with the study of their biogeographical distribution patterns and host-relations, hypothesis on the evolutionary history of these groups are formulated. Special attention is given to marine palaemonid shrimps. These shrimps are living in association with other invertebrates. The co-evolutionary component is studied by means of comparisons between phylogenetic patterns of both shrimps and hosts.
Keywords
Ecological speciation, biogeography, phylogeny, marine biodiversity, Crustacea, Decapoda, Caridea, Palaemonidae, symbiosis, taxonomy, systematics
Researchinterest
A selection of the topics I am working on currently:
- Checklist of Dutch Caribbean palaemonid shrimps
- Evolution of symbiotic shrimps
- Descriptions of new species of marine palaemonids
- Ontological host shifts in symbiotic palaemonids
Current TopicCleaning shrimps
Multiple origins and strong phenotypic convergence in fish-cleaning palaemonid shrimp lineages
Several species of palaemonid shrimps are known to act as fish-cleaning symbionts, with cleaning interactions ranging from dedicated (obligate) to facultative. We confirmed five evolutionarily independent origins of fish cleaning symbioses within the family Palaemonidae based on a phylogenetic analysis and the ancestral state reconstruction of 68 species, including 13 fish-cleaners. (Horka et al., 2018)
Keypublications
- Fransen C.H.J.M. 2023. The marine palaemonid shrimps (Crustacea, Deapoda, Caridea) of the Dutch Caribbean. Zootaxa 5387 (1), 1-127. DOI: 10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5387.1.1
- de Gier W., Helleman P., van den Oever J., Fransen C.H.J.M. 2023. Ecomorphological convergence in the walking leg dactyli of two clades of ascidian‐and mollusc‐associated shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae). Ecology and Evolution 13 (12), e10768. doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10768
- De Grave S., Decock W., Dekeyzer S., Davie P.J.F., Fransen C.H.J.M., Boyko C.B, Poore G.C.B., Macpherson E., Ahyong S.T., Crandall K.A., Mazancourt V., Osawa M., Chan T.-Y., Ng P.K.L., Lemaitre R., van der Meij S.E.T., Santos S. 2023. Benchmarking global biodiversity of decapod crustaceans (Crustacea: Decapoda). Journal of Crustacean Biology 43, 1–9. doi.org/10.1093/jcbiol/ruad042
- de Gier W., Fransen C.H.J.M. 2023. Polka-dotted treasures: Revising a clade of ascidian- and bivalve-associated shrimps (Caridea: Palaemonidae). Contributions to Zoology 92, 179–282. doi: 10.1163/18759866-bja10042
- de Gier W., Groenhof M., Fransen C.H.J.M. 2022. Coming out of your shell or crawling back in: multiple interphylum host switching events within a clade of bivalve and ascidian-associated shrimps (Caridea: Palaemonidae). Contributions to Zoology 91, 166–198. doi:10.1163/18759866-bja10030.
- Horká I., De Grave S., Fransen C.H.J.M., Petrusek A., Ďuriš Z. 2018. Multiple origins and strong phenotypic convergence in fish-cleaning palaemonid shrimp lineages. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 124: 71-81.
- Horká I., Grave S. de, Fransen C.H.J.M., Petrusek A., Ďuriš Z. 2016. Multiple host switching events shape the evolution of symbiotic palaemonid shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda). Scientific Reports 6: 26486.
- Grave S. de, Fransen C.H.J.M. 2011. Carideorum catalogus: the recent species of the dendrobranchiate, stenopodidean, procarididean and caridean shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda). Zoologische Mededelingen 85: 195-589.
PhDsupervision
Naturalis aims to be a breeding ground for international scientific talent. Therefore, PhD's have a special position in our organisation.
Co-promotor:
- Meij, S.E.T. van der. Evolutionary diversification of coral-dwelling gall crabs (Cryptochiridae). Leiden University, defended in 2015.
- Gier, W. de. Ecomorphological aspects in the evolution of symbiotic marine crustaceans. Groningen University, 2019-2023.
- Schoot, R.J. van der. Geassocieerde fauna op koraalriffen: zegen of vloek? Groningen University, 2020-2025.
Teachingactivities
- Bachelor course Biodiversity II, Leiden University
- Honours course Evolution of Earth and Life, examining today's evidence for Origins questions along the coast of Brittany, Leiden University
Honours ClassCrises in Biology: Animal Life from the Late Precambrian to the Emergence of Land Life
Life in all its diversity evolved in the marine environment. In this course taught at Leiden University and at the Marine Center of the University Marie et Pierre Curie, France, in Roscoff, we teach aspects of the Tree of Life, we focus on the transition from mono-cellular life to animal life conquering the continents in the early Paleozoic, and we address Earth history from the time of the origin of life to the adaptations that made the emergence of land life possible.
We bring together a multi-disciplinary team of marine biologists, ecologists, physicists and geophysicists, isotope geochemists, paleontologists and geologists to teach a course in geo-biology with special interest in the Tree of Life, the origin of life, and the environments in which life evolved.
Watch trailer honours course 'Evolution of Earth and Life', Leiden University and Naturalis
In themedia
Artikel door Bart Braun in de rubriek 'De Verdieping' in Trouw - 8 juli 2018: De waanzinnige wasstraat van de poetsgarnaal is van levensbelang
Taxadescribed
Crassimarginatella harmeri Fransen, 1986
Cradoscrupocellaria curacaoensis (Fransen, 1986)
Aspiscellaria carmabi (Fransen, 1986)
Aspiscellaria piscaderaensis (Fransen, 1986)
Aspiscellaria hildae (Fransen, 1986)
Bugula hummelincki Fransen, 1986
Discias pascuensis Fransen, 1987
Palaemonella disalvoi Fransen, 1987
Cuapetes rapanui (Fransen, 1987)
Bitias Fransen, 1990
Bitias stocki Fransen, 1990
Lysmata olavoi Fransen, 1991
Salmoneus sketi Fransen, 1991
Bythocaris akidopleura Fransen, 1993
Jocaste platysoma Fransen, 1994
Chelonika Fransen, 1997
Chelonika macrochela Fransen, 1997
Lebbeus africanus Fransen, 1997
Pontonia manningi Fransen, 2000
Leontoncaris vanderlandi Fransen, 2001
Pontonia pilosa Fransen, 2002
Ascidonia Fransen, 2002
Rostronia Fransen, 2002
Dactylonia Fransen, 2002
Odontonia Fransen, 2002
Odontonia rufopunctata Fransen, 2002
Odontonia seychellensis Fransen, 2002
Bruceonia Fransen, 2002
Poripontonia dux Fransen, 2003
Odontonia maldivensis Fransen, 2006
Periclimenaeus orbitocarinatus Fransen, 2006
Neopontonides brucei Fransen & Almeida, 2009
Pseudopontonides plumosus Snijders & Fransen, 2010
Leontocaris smarensis Cardoso & Fransen, 2012
Nippontonia christellae Fransen, 2013
Hamodactylus macrophthalmus Fransen & Rauch, 2013
Periclimenes macrorhyncha Eilbracht & Fransen, 2015
Hamodactylus paraqabai Horká, Fransen & Ďuriš, 2016
Hamodactylus pseudaqabai Horká, Fransen & Ďuriš, 2016
Paraclimenaeus michaeli Odijk & Fransen, 2017
Pseudocoutierea acutidorsata Olthof, Becking & Fransen, 2018
Odontonia plurellicola de Gier & Fransen, 2018
Halocaridinides socotraensis Fransen & Van Damme, 2018
Hippolyte cedrici Fransen & De Grave, 2019
Hippolyte karenae Fransen & De Grave, 2019
Odontonia kerangcaris Fransen, Groenhof & de Gier, 2021
Polkamenes de Gier & Fransen, 2023
Tympanicheles de Gier & Fransen, 2023
Periclimenes africanus Fransen & Wirtz, 2023