Fernando L. Yards. Mantelatto, Vera F. Alarcon, Renata B. Garcia, Eggs Development Strategies of your Exotic Hermit Crab Paguristes Tortugae off Brazil, Diary off Crustacean Biology, Volume 22, Issue 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 flirt4free 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 of Anomura was in fact eliciting increasing demand for look at the fact hermit crabs portray an enthusiastic fascinating category away from a physiological and you can evolutionary viewpoint ( Mantelatto and you may Garcia, 1999). This community constitutes more 800 types of the latest hermit crabs worldwide and also been through significant improve ( Ingle, 1993).
Hermit crabs represent an essential portion of the of a lot intertidal and you will moderately strong benthic organizations, in which it play a crucial role in the marine system ( Fransozo and you may Mantelatto, 1998). However, pair research has already been held towards lifetime background otherwise reproductive environment away from hermit crabs compared to almost every other decapods.
Fecundity is a vital factor in the crustaceans, yet others, for deciding new reproductive prospective regarding a types and you will/otherwise of your own stock size of a people ( Mantelatto and Fransozo, 1997), maybe outlining the newest reproductive adaptations so you can environment standards ( Sastry, 1983). Hermit crabs specifically, because they live-in gastropod shells, pay for the opportunity to research the latest interaction ranging from money and you will reproductive method. According to Wilber (1989), a woman’s shell may affect the woman reproduction by choosing whether or not she gets ovigerous and you can/otherwise restricting exactly how many egg put. It author thought several regions of the fresh shell-size/reproduction relationships, especially about the differences in eggs manufacturing when considering the new varieties, size, frequency, and you will weight of the cover filled.
Eggs Design Tips of the Warm Hermit Crab Paguristes Tortugae of Brazil
Likewise, around three groups of hermit crab specifically (we.e., the genera Pagurus and you can Paguristes, plus the “Pylopagurus-like” species), was in fact a difficult classification to learn given that of a lot types is actually recognized from only one or a number of localities, and lots of however-undescribed types are recognized to occur in the location, leading to considerable character trouble one of experts and you can nonspecialists the exact same ( Hendrickx and Harvey, 1999). Paguristes tortugae Schmitt, 1933, try a fairly well-known species marketed throughout the Western Atlantic of Fl in order to Brazil (because the far south once the Santa Catarina State) ( Rieger and you can Giraldi, 1997; Melo, 1999). In spite of the pair records on all round biology from pagurids, P. tortugae could have been relatively well studied (select Mantelatto and Sousa, when you look at the push, to own feedback).