Fecundity of Uca uruguayensis and Chasmagnathus granulatus (Decapoda, Brachyura) from the "Refugio de Vida Silvestre" Bahía Samborombón, Argentina

Abstract

The aim of the present work conducted at the Refugio de Vida Silvestre Bahía Samborombón is to analyse the most relevant aspects of the fecundity of Chasmagnathus granulatus and Uca uruguayensis. Samplings were carried out from March 2001 to February 2003. Ovigerous females of U. uruguayensis (N = 13) and C. granulatus (N = 25) were found during spring and summer, their sizes (CW) varied from 9.1 to 11.7 mm for the former species and from 22.8 to 32.4 mm for the latter. The egg diameter in U. uruguayensis ranged from 245 to 260 µm for embryos in the early stage of development and from 250 to 345 µm for those in mid-developmental stage, while in C. granulatus from 250 to 345 µm and from 260 to 365 µm respectively. Fecundity varied from 1126 to 6745 eggs/brood in U. uruguayensis and 15688-57418 eggs/brood in C. granulatus. For those females with broods in mid-developmental stage, several relationships were made. For U. uruguayensis the best correlation coefficients were obtained for the relationships: female weight vs. egg mass weight and carapace width vs. egg mass weight; for C. granulatus the best association was obtained between female size and the egg number and the egg mass weight.Keywords: fecundity, Uca uruguayensis, Chasmagnathus granulatus, Argentina. Fecundidade deUca uruguayensis e Chasmagnathus granulatus (Decapoda, Brachyura) no "Refúgio de Vida Silvestre" Bahía Samborombón, Argentina Resumo O objetivo do presente trabalho foi analisar os aspectos mais relevantes da fecundidade de Chasmagnathus granulatus e Uca uruguayensis no Refúgio da Vida Silvestre Bahia Samborombón. As amostragens foram realizadas de março de 2001 a fevereiro de 2003. As fêmeas ovígeras de U. uruguayensis (N = 13) e de C. granulatus (N = 25) foram capturadas na primavera e verão. A largura da carapaça (LC) de U. uruguayensis variou de 9.1 a 11.7 mm, e de 22.8 a 32.4 mm para C. granulatus. O diâmetro dos ovos de U. uruguayensis variou de 245 a 260 µm para embriões em estágio de desenvolvimento inicial e de 250 a 345 µm para aqueles em estágio intermediário; para C. granulatus as variações foram de 250 a 345 µm e de 260 a 365 µm, respectivamente. A fecundidade de U. uruguayensis variou de 1126 a 6745 ovos/desova e para C. granulatus de 15688 a 57418 ovos/desova. Para as fêmeas com massa de ovos em estágio de desenvolvimento intermediário foram efetuadas várias relações: para U. uruguayensis os melhores coeficientes de correlação foram obtidos nas relações: peso da fêmea vs. peso da massa de ovos, e largura da carapaça vs. peso da massa de ovos. Para C. granulatus, a melhor associação foi obtida entre o número de ovos e o peso da massa de ovos.

Population structure and fecundity in Uca virens Salmon y Atsaides, 1968 (Decapoda: Ocypodidae) in southern Tamiahua Lagoon, Veracruz, Mexico

“…In comparing average CW and fecundity values of U. virens with other species of genus Uca, we found similar values, particularity with species inhabiting in the Gulf of Mexico (Rabalais, 1991;Yamaguchi, 2001;Litulo 2005a;César et al, 2007). However, we observed larger sized non-ovigerous females than ovigerous females in breeding season.…”

“…Fecundity analysis not only includes the estimation of egg numbers, but also the seasonal pattern of egg production. The reproductive aspects and fecundity in brachyurans have been treated for different families (Costa et al, 2006;César et al, 2007). Koga et al (2000) analysed fecundity in different ocypodids and found that the production of large broods was not continuous (because of food scarcity, desiccation and egg vulnerability), while in species with small broods females tend to reproduce continuously.…”

Population biology of the crab Armases angustipes (Crustacea, Decapoda, Sesarmidae) at Brazilian tropical coast

“…The low number ovigerous females observed in the present study is not an uncommon pattern among crabs (seiPle & salMon, 1987;Mantelatto & Fransozo, 1997;negreiros-Fransozo et al, 2002;PinHeiro & Fransozo, 2002;silva & osHiro, 2002;cobo & Fransozo, 2003;Mantelatto et al, 2003;liMa et al, 2006;castiglioni et al, 2007;césar et al, 2007;lira et al, 2013). This can be related to the cryptic habit of the ovigerous females.…”

Diversidade e distribuição dos Crustacea Brachyura dos manguezais dos rios Ariquindá e Mamucabas, litoral sul de Pernambuco, Brasil

“…The low abundance of ovigerous females is commonly observed in brachyuran species, as C. ornatus (Mantelatto & Fransozo, 1997) (Castiglioni et al, 2007), Uca uruguayensis (Nobili, 1901) and Neohelice granulata (Dana, 1851) (César et al, 2007), as well as U. cordatus (araújo & Calado, 2008;present study). Probably these females may have a cryptic habit when compared to the nonovigerous females.…”