Fernando L. M. Mantelatto, Vera F. Alarcon, Renata B. Garcia, Egg Creation Strategies of one’s Tropical Hermit Crab Paguristes Tortugae out-of Brazil, Diary out-of Crustacean Biology, Regularity 22, Point dos, 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 measures from Anomura have been eliciting broadening interest in view of the fact hermit crabs show an enthusiastic interesting class out-of a biological and you may evolutionary opinion ( Mantelatto and you may Garcia, 1999). This community constitutes more 800 species of this new hermit crabs of the world and has now been through considerable modify ( Ingle, 1993).

Hermit crabs portray a significant portion of the of a lot intertidal and you may moderately deep benthic groups, where it geek2geek enjoy an important role on marine food chain ( Fransozo and you can Mantelatto, 1998). Still, pair studies have come presented for the existence history or reproductive environment off hermit crabs weighed against almost every other decapods.

Fecundity is a vital factor when you look at the crustaceans, yet others, to own choosing the reproductive possible regarding a types and you may/otherwise of the inventory measurements of an inhabitants ( Mantelatto and you will Fransozo, 1997), perhaps detailing the reproductive adjustment so you can environmental conditions ( Sastry, 1983). Hermit crabs specifically, because they live-in gastropod shells, afford a chance to study brand new communications anywhere between investment and you can reproductive strategy. Predicated on Wilber (1989), a beneficial woman’s layer make a difference the woman breeding of the deciding if or not otherwise perhaps not she becomes ovigerous and you will/or restricting what number of egg introduced. Which blogger felt several aspects of brand new cover-size/breeding relationship, particularly in regards to the variations in eggs production with regards to the varieties, dimensions, volume, and you will pounds of your own layer filled.

Egg Development Tips of the Tropical Hermit Crab Paguristes Tortugae of Brazil

At exactly the same time, three sets of hermit crab in particular (we.e., the genera Pagurus and you will Paguristes, and also the “Pylopagurus-like” species), have been a difficult category to study since the many varieties are understood from just one otherwise several localities, and many nonetheless-undescribed varieties are recognized to take place in the location, ultimately causing significant identification problems certainly one of pros and you may nonspecialists similar ( Hendrickx and you will Harvey, 1999). Paguristes tortugae Schmitt, 1933, is a fairly popular variety delivered regarding the West Atlantic away from Fl to help you Brazil (because the much southern once the Santa Catarina Condition) ( Rieger and you will Giraldi, 1997; Melo, 1999). Inspite of the partners papers on all round biology out-of pagurids, P. tortugae might have been seemingly well studied (pick Mantelatto and Sousa, in the press, getting remark).