Fernando L. Meters. Mantelatto, Vera F. Alarcon, Renata B. Garcia, Eggs Production Strategies of the Tropical Hermit Crab Paguristes Tortugae of Brazil, Diary off Crustacean Biology, Frequency twenty-two, Matter 2, 1975-99990246
Conceptual
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 to your reproductive methods out-of Anomura had been eliciting expanding need for view of the reality that hermit crabs depict an fascinating classification from a physiological and evolutionary viewpoint ( Mantelatto and you can Garcia, 1999). This community comprises over 800 species of the newest hermit crabs worldwide and has undergone big revision ( Ingle, 1993).
Hermit crabs depict an important portion of the of numerous intertidal www.datingranking.net/nl/interracialpeoplemeet-overzicht/ and moderately deep benthic teams, in which they enjoy an important role about aquatic food chain ( Fransozo and Mantelatto, 1998). Nevertheless, couples studies have already been held into lifestyle background or reproductive ecology of hermit crabs weighed against most other decapods.
Fecundity is an important factor inside the crustaceans, yet others, for choosing the fresh new reproductive possible of a kinds and you may/otherwise of the stock measurements of a people ( Mantelatto and you will Fransozo, 1997), perhaps outlining the reproductive adjustment to help you environmental requirements ( Sastry, 1983). Hermit crabs particularly, because they live-in gastropod shells, manage the opportunity to research brand new interaction ranging from money and you will reproductive strategy. Centered on Wilber (1989), a beneficial female’s shell may affect the woman breeding because of the choosing if otherwise perhaps not she becomes ovigerous and you can/otherwise limiting how many egg lead. This journalist felt numerous aspects of brand new cover-size/breeding relationship, especially concerning the differences in egg manufacturing regarding this new types, size, frequency, and lbs of your cover occupied.
Egg Manufacturing Procedures of your Warm Hermit Crab Paguristes Tortugae away from Brazil
On top of that, around three categories of hermit crab specifically (i.e., this new genera Pagurus and you can Paguristes, and the “Pylopagurus-like” species), were an emotional category to study due to the fact of a lot types are identified away from just one or several localities, and lots of nevertheless-undescribed variety are recognized to take place in the location, ultimately causing big personality troubles among experts and nonspecialists equivalent ( Hendrickx and you can Harvey, 1999). Paguristes tortugae Schmitt, 1933, is actually a comparatively popular species marketed on the West Atlantic off Fl so you’re able to Brazil (because much southern because the Santa Catarina County) ( Rieger and you may Giraldi, 1997; Melo, 1999). Despite the couple files on all round biology regarding pagurids, P. tortugae might have been apparently well-studied (find Mantelatto and you can Sousa, in press, to possess comment).