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Seasonal and temporal variations in population dynamics of the Carcinus maenas (L.): the effect of an extreme drought event in a southern European estuary

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 February 2010

Filipa Bessa ,
Alexandra Baeta ,
Filipe Martinho ,
Sónia Marques  and
Miguel Ângelo Pardal
Filipa Bessa*
Affiliation:
Institute of Marine Research (IMAR), c/o Department of Zoology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
Alexandra Baeta
Affiliation:
Institute of Marine Research (IMAR), c/o Department of Zoology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
Filipe Martinho
Affiliation:
Institute of Marine Research (IMAR), c/o Department of Zoology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
Sónia Marques
Affiliation:
Institute of Marine Research (IMAR), c/o Department of Zoology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
Miguel Ângelo Pardal
Affiliation:
Institute of Marine Research (IMAR), c/o Department of Zoology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: F. Bessa, Institute of Marine Research (IMAR), c/o Department of Zoology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal email: afbessa@student.zoo.uc.pt
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Abstract

The temporal and spatial variability in population dynamics of the European crab Carcinus maenas (L.) was studied between June 2003 and September 2007 in the Mondego estuary. An extreme climate event (extreme drought) occurred in 2004 and 2005 with a low freshwater flow discharge into the estuary, leading to an increase in salinity. Juveniles' recruitment was continuous throughout each year with a high proportion of young recruits being recorded in the spring of 2005. The proportion of green crabs clearly increased from the mouth to the upstream areas and the proportion of crabs actually in moult followed the same pattern. Parasitization by the endoparasitic barnacle, Sacculina carcini was observed, principally at the mouth of the estuary. The C. maenas population showed a regular size–frequency distribution and structure for both sexes during the study. Secondary production (P) of C. maenas estimated for the 4-year study period was different between years though, P/B ratios were similar during the whole study period. During the drought period, catches of the crab recruits were higher, particularly in the spring, probably due to the increase in salinity, which emphasizes the importance of these extreme events in controlling the abundances of coastal populations.

Keywords

Carcinus maenasseasonal variationpopulation dynamicssecondary productionextreme droughtEuropean estuaryclimate change
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 90 , Issue 5 , August 2010 , pp. 867 - 876
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2010

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