Population biology of the portunid crab Callinectes arcuatus Ordway in the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica, Central America

Dittel, Ana I.; Epifanio, Charles E.; Chavarría, Juan B.

doi:10.1016/0272-7714(85)90109-x

Cited by 14 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…As this CW max was thought to be exceptional and not reflecting the growth potential of an average specimen, a smaller CW ∞ of 142 mm (corresponding to the mean CW max value of the 10 largest individuals) was used for the size frequency analysis. Based on the resulting K-value of 0.89, male C. arcuatus grow to their size of first maturity (CW mat ) in about one year, which is in close agreement with results of laboratory studies (Dittel et al, 1985) and field studies (Paul, 1982) and compares to the growth of C. sapidus and C. rathbunae, both reaching 110 mm CW in one year (ChazaroOlvera and Peterson, 2004). The ø -index determined in this study is also within the range of published data for other species within this genus (Table 2), although high individual variability in growth seems to be apparent for Callinectes (Ju et al, 2001).…”

Section: Growth Biometry and Size At Maturitysupporting

confidence: 79%

“…(Table 3), but somewhat lower than in the study of Dittel et al (1985) on C. arcuatus in the Gulf of Nicoya two decades ago. These comparisons of swept area estimates are difficult, however, due to the uncertainty associated with the determination of a realistic catchability coefficient (q).…”

Section: Population Structure Abundance and Biomassmentioning

confidence: 55%

“…1). These stations were also sampled during an earlier study of Dittel et al (1985), allowing for comparison of results. A fibre glass boat with a 65 hp outboard engine was used to tow the semiballoon shrimp trawl with a head rope of 7.5 m length and 1 cm mesh size.…”

Section: Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While the C. arcuatus population is thought to be underexploited, effects on the crab stock can already be seen at the given fishing effort. In two studies in the Gulf of Nicoya (Dittel et al, 1985;Dittel, 1990, unpublished), which are thought to represent a virgin state of the population because virtually no fishery existed on C. arcuatus at this time, the stock was dominated by large specimens. While this still holds true for the female part of the stock (in 1990 mean CW: 80 mm; present study: 77 mm), the mean size of male crabs has decreased from 97 mm (1990) to 71 mm at present.…”

Section: Population Structure Abundance and Biomassmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fisheries assessment of Callinectes arcuatus (Brachyura, Portunidae) in the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica

Fischer

Wolff

2006

Fisheries Research

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The Callinectes arcuatus population of the Gulf of Nicoya and its current level of exploitation were investigated based on size frequency analysis of trap and trawl catches. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters (K = 0.89; CW ∞ = 142 mm for males) are in the range reported for other species of this family and suggest that the male size at first maturity (CW mat = 94.3 mm) is reached in about a year. Total and natural mortality (Z yr = 2.49; M yr = 1.32) were derived from catch curve analysis and age at first maturity, respectively, and indicate that the stock is below full exploitation (E = 0.47). A yield per recruit analysis suggests that yield could be maximised, if E was increased to 0.7 under the precondition that recruitment was independent of stock size. Until this has been verified, the use of a precautionary exploitation rate (E 0.1 ) of 0.57 is advised allowing for a 20% increase in fishing effort (from 300 traps currently being fished to around 360 traps). A maximum effort of 1600 traps, as recommended by the Instituto Costarricense de Pesca y Acuicultura (INCOPESCA), is unlikely to be sustained by the population, since a decrease in the proportion of large males in the catches has already been observed over the past years under the current fishing regime. This resource is as yet only sold locally, but present catches of around 145 t seem to already cause market saturation. A greatly increased catch (at E > 0.57) would thus not only be detrimental to the stock but also to the market price of the resource. Future developments of the fishery should be based on a co-management approach and should involve the exploration of new market opportunities such as the "soft crab market".

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Section: Growth Biometry and Size At Maturitysupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Population Structure Abundance and Biomassmentioning

confidence: 55%

Section: Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Population Structure Abundance and Biomassmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fisheries assessment of Callinectes arcuatus (Brachyura, Portunidae) in the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica

Fischer

Wolff

2006

Fisheries Research

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“…The upper gulf supports the largest populations of crabs, squid, and echinoderms (Maurer et al 1984). The Atlantic blue crab, a support species for many important fisheries, lives predominantly in the upper gulf, only migrating further south to spawn (Dittel et al 1985). By weight, more than half of all fish and nearly all of the shrimp and shellfish caught by artisanal fishermen are found in the upper gulf (iNRECOSMAR 1998).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The distribution of nutrients, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a in the upper Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica, a tropical estuary

Palter¹,

Coto²,

Ballestero³

2006

RBT

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in the Gulf of Nicoya on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, nutrient rich equatorial subsurface water (ESW) is upwelled in much of the lower gulf. These offshore waters are often regarded as the major source of nutrients to the gulf. However, for most of the year, the ESW has little influence on the nutrient content of the upper gulf, which has a distinct character from the lower gulf. The upper gulf, extending 40 km north of the restriction between Puntarenas Peninsula and San Lucas island, is bordered primarily by mangrove swamps, is less than 20 m deep, and is less saline than the lower gulf. We surveyed the upper gulf for dissolved inorganic nitrogen, phosphate, silicate, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll in November 2000, January and July 2001. All nutrients are more concentrated in the upper gulf during the rainy and transitional seasons than the dry season, significantly so for phosphate and silicate. Throughout the year, nutrients tend to be much more concentrated in the less saline water of the upper gulf. This trend indicates that discharge from the Tempisque River predominantly controls spatial and temporal nutrient variability in the upper gulf. However, nutrient rich ESW, upwelled offshore and mixed to form a mid-temperature intermediate water, may enter the inner gulf to provide an important secondary source of nutrients during the dry season. Rev. Biol. Trop. 55 (2): 427-436. Epub 2007 June, 29.

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A Trophic Flow Model of the Caeté Mangrove Estuary (North Brazil) with Considerations for the Sustainable Use of its Resources

Wolff

Koch

Isaac

2000

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

190

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Population biology of the portunid crab Callinectes arcuatus Ordway in the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica, Central America

Cited by 14 publications

References 9 publications

Fisheries assessment of Callinectes arcuatus (Brachyura, Portunidae) in the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica

Fisheries assessment of Callinectes arcuatus (Brachyura, Portunidae) in the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica

The distribution of nutrients, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a in the upper Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica, a tropical estuary

A Trophic Flow Model of the Caeté Mangrove Estuary (North Brazil) with Considerations for the Sustainable Use of its Resources

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