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Population dynamics of Sesarma rectum (Crustacea: Brachyura: Grapsidae) in the Ariquindá River mangrove, north-east of Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2011

Daniela da Silva Castiglioni ,
Paloma Joana Albuquerque de Oliveira ,
Josivan Soares da Silva  and
Petrônio Alves Coelho
Daniela da Silva Castiglioni*
Affiliation:
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Centro Acadêmico de Vitória, Núcleo de Biologia, Rua Alto do Reservatório, s/n, Bairro Bela Vista, CEP 55608-680, Vitória de Santo Antão, Pernambuco, Brazil
Paloma Joana Albuquerque de Oliveira
Affiliation:
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Centro Acadêmico de Vitória, Núcleo de Biologia, Rua Alto do Reservatório, s/n, Bairro Bela Vista, CEP 55608-680, Vitória de Santo Antão, Pernambuco, Brazil
Josivan Soares da Silva
Affiliation:
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Departamento de Oceanografia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Avenida Arquitetura, s/n, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
Petrônio Alves Coelho
Affiliation:
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Departamento de Oceanografia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Avenida Arquitetura, s/n, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: D. da Silva Castiglioni, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Centro Acadêmico de Vitória, Núcleo de Biologia, Rua Alto do Reservatório, s/n, Bairro Bela Vista, CEP 55608-680, Vitória de Santo Antão, Pernambuco, Brazil email: danielacastiglioni@yahoo.com.br
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Abstract

This study was carried out in order to provide basic information on the population ecology of the crab Sesarma rectum in the Ariquindá River mangrove, Tamandaré, State of Pernambuco, Brazil. The population was analysed with regard to the following aspects, in particular: the size-class frequency distribution of carapace width (CW), mean body size (CW) of males and females, morphological sexual maturity, sex-ratio, reproductive period, and recruitment. Samples were collected monthly from April 2008 through to March 2009; the crabs were collected manually, with a capture effort by one person for 30 minutes, during low tide. The specimens obtained were measured for CW, length of the propodus of males, and abdomen width of females; and the sex and ovigerous condition were noted. Altogether, we obtained 511 specimens (132 juvenile and 137 adult males, and 171 juvenile and 71 adult females, of which 32 were ovigerous). The median CW of males (16.15 mm) was significantly larger than that of females (13.82 mm) (P < 0.05). The size at morphological sexual maturity was 15.73 mm in males and 16.71 mm in females. The sex-ratio for the total of specimens analysed was 1.11:1 (male:female) (P > 0.05). The sex-ratio by size-class showed an anomalous pattern, with a greater abundance of males in the larger size-classes. The reproductive period was continuous and the highest frequency of ovigerous females was recorded in the spring and summer. The major pulse of recruitment occurred during autumn and winter, which is related to greater reproductive activity during the warmer months of the year.

Keywords

population structuremorphological sexual maturitybody sizereproductioncrabmangrove
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 91 , Issue 7 , November 2011 , pp. 1395 - 1401
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2011

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