Fecundity, reproductive seasonality and maturation size of <i>Callinectes sapidus</i> females (Decapoda: Portunidae) in the Southeast coast of Brazil

Abstract

C. sapidus fisheries has a significant influence on the economy of some countries in North America and has a relative extensive literature in these regions. However, only few papers discuss the ecology of C. sapidus in the South Atlantic, despite its economic importance in that region. We studied the fecundity, reproductive seasonality and maturation size of C. sapidus females captured in the Southeast coast of Brazil from January to December 2002. Females were separated, weighted (Wt), and cephalothorax width (CW) was measured. Furthermore, the eggs-masses were classified according to embryonic development, separated, weighted (We) and fixed. Eggs were also separated and counted, resulting in the average number of eggs per individual (Ne). A total sample of 307 females was collected: 78 young, 130 adults and 99 ovigerous. Ovigerous females showed CW between 7.49 and 15.89cm with average of 12.21cm and were distributed throughout the sample period, with highest incidence between December and March. The onset of morphological maturity (L 50 ) occurred at CW=10.33cm, and the size in which all were mature (L 100 ) was CW=11.20cm. Individual fecundity ranged from 689 356 to 3 438 122 with an average of 2 006 974. The CW showed a positive growth trend with Ne and We. We concluded that in order to ensure the resource sustainability, it is necessary to prohibit captures of C. sapidus in these regions, especially during summer. Additionally, our studies suggest that the minimum capture size should be 11cm of carapace width. Rev. Biol. Trop. 61 (2): 595-602. Epub 2013 June 01.

Regional and Temporal Variation in Size at Maturity of Female Blue Crabs in Texas Coastal Waters

“…This is the first documentation of extensive small-scale regional plasticity in blue crab size at maturity for the Gulf of Mexico. Coastwide size at 50% maturity was slightly less than that reported elsewhere (Guillory and Hein 1996;Severino-Rodrigues et al 2013), including that reported by Fisher (1999) from the Texas coast more than 2 decades earlier. This regional variation across Texas bays was observed with no apparent latitudinal trends.…”

“…The minimum size limit (127 mm carapace width [CW]) in Texas is designed to allow female crabs the opportunity to spawn at least once before becoming vulnerable to harvest. Previous studies report size at 50% maturity for female blue crabs at 120 mm CW in Texas (Fisher 1999) and Chesapeake Bay (Rugolo et al 1997), 125 mm from Caillou Lake estuary, Louisiana (Guillory and Hein 1996), 122 mm in southeast Brazil (Severino-Rodrigues et al 2013), and 119 mm in the southwestern coast of Turkey (Sumer et al 2013). Tagatz (1968) reported that 40.5% of females at 130-134 mm CW were mature and only 18.5% of females at 125-129 mm.…”

Reproductive biology of Charybdis (Goniohellenus) longicollis Leene, 1938 (Brachyura: Portunidae), in the north-eastern Mediterranean Sea, Turkey

“…The mean fecundity in the presesnt study was lower. Variations in fecundity may have been caused by several factors such as the technique used for counting eggs, time and stage of embryonic development of eggs at the time of counting and genetic characteristics of the populations (Severino-Rodrigues et al, 2013).…”

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“…Juvenile crabs were found in the benthic population almost throughout the year. Severino-Rodrigues et al (2013) reported that ovigerous females were more abundant between December and March in the Southest coast of Brazil. Tagatz (1968) found that spawning of blue crab occurred one or two months after mating during spring and summer in the St. Johns River in the northeastern Florida.…”