Fernando L. Meters. Mantelatto, Vera F. Alarcon, Renata B. Garcia, Egg Development Measures of the Tropical Hermit Crab Paguristes Tortugae out of Brazil, Journal out-of Crustacean Biology, Regularity 22, Point 2, 1975-99990246
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to characterize the total and seasonal fecundity of the hermit crab Paguristes tortugae as well as the influence of shell type on fecundity using the morphometric relationship. Ovigerous females were collected monthly from January to December, 1998, in the infralittoral region of Anchieta Island. Samplings were performed using SCUBA. The hermit crabs and the gastropod shells were measured. Hermit wet weight and shell dry weight were recorded. For the fecundity analysis, only ovigerous females with the eggs in the early phase of development were selected. The number of eggs carried by individuals of several sizes (shield length), condition of development, and egg size were determined. A high percentage (%) of ovigerous females with eggs in the early phase of development were captured, with a low frequency (4.29%) of females with eggs in the final stage of development. Size-frequency distribution during the months showed two peaks in the ovigerous female population (2.5 to 3.4 mm and 4.0 to 5.4 mm of SL). |$ <\rm>\pm <\rm>$| fecundity was |$132 \pm 102$| eggs and tended to increase with increasing SL. No significant difference in fecundity occurred among the various seasons of the year. The results showed continuous and elevated reproduction of P. tortugae, with a high reproductive potential for the population. The pattern of the frequency distribution of ovigerous females tending to bimodality may be characteristic of a population with a two-year life cycle. Considering the four shells most occupied by P. tortugae (Pisania auritula, Cerithium atratum, Morula nodulosa, and Leucozonia nassa), the highest fecundity was observed for ovigerous females occupying larger shells (P. auritula and L. nassa). The reproductive aspects of P. tortugae were related to strategies developed to compensate for interspecific competition, i.e., high and continuous reproductive effort, early maturity, low fecundity, and larger eggs produced.
Studies into the reproductive procedures off Anomura have been eliciting expanding need for look at that hermit crabs portray an enthusiastic fascinating classification out of a physical and evolutionary advice ( Mantelatto and Garcia, 1999). This group constitutes more than 800 species of the brand new hermit crabs around the world features been through considerable revise ( Ingle, 1993).
Hermit crabs show an important part of the of a lot intertidal and you may modestly strong benthic teams, where it gamble an important role about marine system ( Fransozo and you will Mantelatto, 1998). However, partners research has been presented to the lifestyle records otherwise reproductive environment of hermit crabs compared to most other decapods.
Fecundity is a vital factor from inside the crustaceans, among others, to own deciding brand new reproductive possible out of a variety and you can/or of your own inventory measurements of a people ( Mantelatto and Fransozo, 1997), maybe outlining the brand new reproductive changes to environmental criteria ( Sastry, 1983). Hermit crabs particularly, while they are now living in gastropod shells, afford the opportunity to data the brand new communication anywhere between money and you may reproductive method. Centered on Wilber (1989), good woman’s shell may affect her breeding of the determining if or not otherwise perhaps not she gets ovigerous and you may/otherwise restricting exactly how many egg produced. It creator noticed numerous aspects of the newest cover-size/reproduction dating, especially about the differences in eggs manufacturing with regards to the latest species, dimensions, regularity, and you can lbs of your shell filled.
Egg Manufacturing Actions of your Tropical Hermit Crab Paguristes Tortugae out of Brazil
On the other hand, about three sets of hermit crab specifically (i.age., the new genera Pagurus and you may Paguristes, additionally the “Pylopagurus-like” species), was in fact an emotional classification to study as the of numerous kinds try understood regarding only one otherwise a few localities, clover dating and many however-undescribed variety are known to occur in the region, leading to big identity troubles certainly one of experts and you will nonspecialists equivalent ( Hendrickx and you may Harvey, 1999). Paguristes tortugae Schmitt, 1933, try a comparatively well-known types marketed about Western Atlantic out of Florida so you’re able to Brazil (since the far south because Santa Catarina Condition) ( Rieger and you will Giraldi, 1997; Melo, 1999). Despite the pair files on the overall biology out of pagurids, P. tortugae could have been apparently well studied (pick Mantelatto and you can Sousa, into the press, for comment).