Population dynamics and reproductive output of the non-indigenous crab Charybdis hellerii in the south-eastern Caribbean Sea

2011 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 469-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan A. Bolaños ◽  
J. Antonio Baeza ◽  
Jesús E. Hernandez ◽  
Carlos Lira ◽  
Régulo López
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Carapace Width ◽  
Caribbean Sea ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Brooding Female ◽  
Size Frequency Distribution ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Caribbean ◽  
First Maturity

Charybdis hellerii is one of several poorly known non-indigenous crabs in the Caribbean. In this study we report on the reproductive dynamic of a shallow subtidal population that invaded Isla Margarita, Venezuela, south-eastern Caribbean Sea > 15 years ago and has persisted in the region up to date. Male and female crabs, both large and small, were found year-round at the study site. The size–frequency distribution indicated a lifespan of 2–3 years. Charybdis hellerii reproduces continuously but with very low intensity during the year. Small individuals (<25 mm carapace length) were uncommon and intermittently found during the study period. Sex-ratio varied between 0.1 and 0.65 (mean ± SD = of 0.46 ± 0.14) and did not differ significantly from 1:1 ratio during most of the year. The size of the smallest brooding female was 36.81 mm carapace width (CW). Behavioural size at first maturity (movable abdomen) in males and females was estimated to be 22.39 mm CW (confidence limits: 18.35–24.72) and 37.43 mm CW (35.55–39.09), respectively. Reproductive output, estimated as the ratio of embryo to female body dry mass, varied between 0.052 and 0.084 (0.07 ± 0.008). Also, reproductive output was size-dependent with large females allocating proportionally less resources to egg production than small females. The reproductive schedule here reported for C. hellerii disagrees with the generalized idea of exotic populations ‘thriving’ in an environment free of natural enemies (e.g. predators, competitors and diseases).

scholarly journals Reproductive biology of Macrobrachium surinamicum (Decapoda: Palaemonidae) in the Amazon River mouth

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jô de Farias LIMA ◽  
Mayara Cristina Moura DA CRUZ ◽  
Luis Mauricio Abdon da SILVA
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
River Mouth ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Amazon River ◽  
Female Size ◽  
Peak Period ◽  
Orinoco Delta ◽  
First Maturity

Macrobrachium surinamicum is an indigenous prawn distributed from the lower Amazon and Tocantins river basins to Venezuela in the Orinoco Delta region. It is common bycatch fauna of Macrobrachium amazonicum artisan fishing in the states of Pará and Amapá. The aim of this study was to investigate aspects on reproductive biology (reproductive period, size of sexual maturity population, fecundity, reproductive output and recruitment) of M. surinamicum from four important areas to artisanal prawn fishing located at the Amazon River mouth (Amapá and Pará). The specimens were captured using 20 handcrafted traps called "matapi". A number of 675 prawns were captured, 258 males, 409 females and eight juveniles, resulting in 1:1.6 (Male: Female) sex ratio. The reproductive peak period occurred from March to July, coinciding with the higher rainfall period. The juvenile prawn occurred only in May and July. Total length of egg-bearing females ranged from 12.12 to 38.30 mm, with mean female length at first maturity (L50) of 23.7 mm. Fecundity increased with prawn size and varied between 174 and 1780 eggs per female. Mean egg volume increased gradually from 0.031 (Stage I) to 0.060 mm³ (Stage III) during embryogenesis. Macrobrachium surinamicum depends on brackish water to complete the larval development. Irrespective of female size, reproductive output of M. surinamicum varied between 4.3 % and 35.5 % of their body weight for egg production. The knowledge of the reproductive biology reported in the present study is an important tool to define strategies to preserve M. surinamicum in Amazon River mouth.

scholarly journals Reproductive Biology of Ovigerous Female Emerita emeritus (Crustacea, Decapoda) in Bengkulu Coastal Waters, Indonesia: Egg Production and Reproductive Output

2016 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 103-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ouratul Edritanti ◽  
Achmad Farajallah ◽  
Yusli Wardiatno
Keyword(s):  
Embryonic Development ◽  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Ovigerous Female ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Egg Volume

Abstract Emerita emeritus is an abundant species in Bengkulu coastal waters, but the knowledge of its reproductive biology is poor. The present study was conducted to elucidate the reproductive aspects of ovigerous female E. emeritus, including fecundity, egg volume and reproductive output. This study was conducted between January 2015 and January 2016 in Bengkulu coastal waters, Indonesia. Samples were collected manually using shovels and hands. The results showed that ovigerous females occurred every month. Fecundity increased significantly in ovigerous females proportional to the size. No correlation was shown between sea surface temperature and egg production. Fecundity and reproductive output decreased throughout the embryonic development.

Growth of the edible crab (Cancer pagurusL.) off south-west England

1974 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 803-823 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Carapace Width ◽  
Large Male ◽  
Annual Growth ◽  
Published Data ◽  
North East ◽  
South West ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Moulting Cycle ◽  
South West England

Moult increments, annual moult frequency and hence annual growth were determined from suture-tagged edible crabs (Cancer pagurusL.) released and recaptured off Devon, Cornwall, and Dorset.The average moult increments of males and females at a premoult carapace width of 100 mm were similar; at larger sizes the average moult increment of females was considerably less than that of males. Annual moult frequency ofC. pagurusin south-west England decreased with increase in size, females more so than males.As a result of the smaller moult increments and lower moult frequency of females, their annual growth is considerably less than that of males. This appears to be the result of three aspects of sex and reproduction: (1) reduction in moult increments, probably as a result of competition for nutritive resources between egg production and body growth; (2) the interruption of the moulting cycle by successive annual spawnings from a single impregnation at the previous moult; and (3) accentuation of the larger increments in weight at moulting of male crabs due to the allometric growth of their chelae. A consequence of the higher growth rate of males is the presence of very large male crabs – a distinctive feature of the population structure of the stock off south-west England.The growth of C.pagurusin south-west England was compared with published data for stocks off the east and north-east coast. Moult increments were similar for both areas, but there were considerable differences in the moult frequencies. In the south-west, males moult more frequently than females; the opposite is the case for the east and north-east crab stocks. A valid reason for this difference has not yet been established.

Multiple spawning and the dynamics of fish populations: inferences from an individual-based simulation model

1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (10) ◽  
pp. 2244-2254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan K Lowerre-Barbieri ◽  
James M Lowerre ◽  
Luiz R Barbieri
Keyword(s):  
Simulation Model ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Spawning Season ◽  
Average Life Span ◽  
Multiple Spawning ◽  
Individual Based Simulation ◽  
First Maturity ◽  
Size At Age

We used an individual-based Monte Carlo simulation model to assess how aspects associated with multiple spawning (within a spawning season) affected survivorship, lifetime fecundity, cohort egg production, and yield-per-recruit of a highly exploited species. To make our model more realistic, we included and tested the effects of individual variability in growth and a seasonal growth pattern. Birth months influenced when fish first matured and became vulnerable to the fishery. There was a sixfold increase in mature fish at the beginning of their first spawning season associated with having been born early versus late the previous season. Early born fish had a lower average life-span than later born fish. Although early born fish had lower survivorship they produced the most eggs because of an early size at first maturity, low fishing mortality in the first year, and their larger size at age. These results suggest multiple spawning can have important implications for recruitment and adult population dynamics.

scholarly journals The reproductive performance of the Red-Algae shrimp Leander paulensis (Ortmann, 1897) (Decapoda, Palaemonidae) and the effect of post-spawning female weight gain on weight-dependent parameters

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uwe Zimmermann ◽  
Fabrício Lopes Carvalho ◽  
Fernando L. Mantelatto
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Coastal Region ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Development Stage ◽  
Female Size ◽  
Egg Volume ◽  
Average Fecundity ◽  
Female Weight

AbstractDecapod species have evolved with a variety of reproductive strategies. In this study reproductive features of the palaemonid shrimp Leander paulensiswere investigated. Individuals were collected in the coastal region of Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. In all, 46 ovigerous females were examined in terms of the following reproductive traits: fecundity, reproductive output, brood loss and egg volume. Leander paulensis produces a large number of small eggs with an average fecundity of 635 ± 246 eggs. Egg volume increased significantly from early (0.034 ± 0.008 mm3) to late development stage (0.05 ± 0.012 mm3). The reproductive output did not correlate with female size. The weight of females bearing stage 2 eggs was significantly higher than that of females carrying stage 1 eggs. We assume that the reason for this weight gain is the recovery of female reserves that have been depleted for egg production. Moreover, we emphasize that this weight gain must be considered when evaluating weight-dependent variables such as reproductive output or brood loss in relation to female weight. Otherwise, an overestimation of these variables might lead to inaccurate results.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document