Population Biology of the Black Land Crab, Gecarcinus Ruricola, in the San Andres Archipelago, Western Caribbean

Relative growth, sexual maturity, and breeding season of three species of the genusPersephona(Decapoda: Brachyura: Leucosiidae): a comparative study

“…As briefly discussed, greater body sizes in males contribute to the reproductive success during many behavioural displays, from territorial defence to carry and hold the female during copulation (Hartnoll, 1969; Rasheed & Mustaquim, 2010). Such advantage was reported for the species Arenaeus cribrarius (Lamarck, 1818) studied by Pinheiro & Fransozo (1993), Sesarma rectum Randall, 1840 by Mantelatto & Fransozo (1999a), Uca thayeri Rathbun, 1900 by Negreiros-Fransozo et al (2003), Gecarcinus ruricola (Linnaeus, 1758) by Hartnoll et al (2006), M. tortugae by Cobo & Alves, 2009, and H. cookii by Mclay & Van den Brink (2009). Interestingly, females did not show considerable changes in the cheliped growth rate; although a positive allometry was identified in juvenile females of P. punctata .…”

“…In addition, these authors did not record a sexual dimorphism in carapace width of P. punctata, probably due to the low number of specimens obtained during their research (58 individuals). Several studies have shown that males attain greater body sizes than females, supporting the notion that the sexual dimorphism is the rule rather than the exception within the Brachyura (see Hartnoll et al, 2006;Litulo, 2006;Gerhart & Bert, 2008;Hirose & Negreiros-Fransozo, 2008;Pereira et al, 2009;Teixeira et al, 2009). Usually, larger body size in males represents successful mating and reproduction during agonistic interactions, courtship, and protection of females during and after copulation (Hartnoll, 1985;Mantelatto & Martinelli, 1999;Fernández-Vergaz et al, 2000;Corgos & Freire, 2006;Mclay & Van den Brink, 2009;Varisco & Vinuesa, 2011;Araújo et al, 2012).…”

“…In Brachyura, the hard integument of crabs, favouring accurate measurements, and the simple identification of ovigerous females by the presence of eggs attached to their pleopods, facilitate investigations on two important reproductive subjects: the relative growth and the breeding season (see Flores & Negreiros-Fransozo, 1998; Mantelatto & Fransozo, 1999a, b; Corgos & Freire, 2006; Hartnoll et al , 2006; Gerhart & Bert, 2008; Cobo & Alves, 2009; Mclay & Van den Brink, 2009; Bertini et al , 2010; Rasheed & Mustaquim, 2010). Throughout the growth of brachyuran crabs, certain body structures, particularly the chelipeds in males and the abdomen in females, have been used by various researchers in studies on morphological maturity due to their functions in reproduction (see Hartnoll, 1978, 1982, 1985; Pinheiro & Fransozo, 1993; Fernández-Vergaz et al , 2000; Corgos & Freire, 2006; Bertini et al , 2007; Hirose & Negreiros-Fransozo, 2007; Doi et al , 2008; Mclay & Van den Brink, 2009; Rasheed & Mustaquim, 2010; Sal Moyano et al , 2011).…”

“…Despite several studies on relative growth and reproductive traits of brachyuran crabs (see Pinheiro & Fransozo, 1993; Flores & Negreiros-Fransozo, 1998; Mantelatto & Fransozo, 1999a, b; Fernández-Vergaz et al , 2000; Corgos & Freire, 2006; Hartnoll et al , 2006; Bertini et al , 2007; Hirose & Negreiros-Fransozo, 2007; Doi et al , 2008; Cobo & Alves, 2009; Mclay & Van den Brink, 2009; Bertini et al , 2010; Sal Moyano et al , 2011), little is known about the biology of leucosiid species, including P. lichtensteinii , P. mediterranea, and P. punctata throughout their range of distribution. Negreiros-Fransozo et al (1989) described the early larval development of P. mediterranea ; Bertini et al (2001, 2010) reported on the spatial and temporal distribution of Persephona spp.…”

Changes in precipitation may alter food preference in an ecosystem engineer, the black land crab,Gecarcinus ruricola

“…Brachyuran crabs of the family Gecarcinidae are large tropical and sub-tropical land crabs and offer a compelling model taxon to investigate the impacts of changing precipitation regimes because they are dependent on access to moisture. The crabs inhabit shaded forests and scrub land where they construct burrows in soft earth or shelter among tree roots (Hartnoll et al, 2006). Land crabs can be found many kilometers from the sea and at altitudes of up to 1,000 m above sea level (Chace & Hobbs, 1969; Britton, Kroh & Golightly, 1982; Jiménez et al, 1994).…”