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Population dynamics of the hermit crab Paguristes erythrops (Diogenidae) from Anchieta Island, southern Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 December 2001

Renata B. Garcia
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia, FFCLRP, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Brazil, Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900 Cep. 14040-901, Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brazil
Fernando L.M. Mantelatto
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia, FFCLRP, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Brazil, Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900 Cep. 14040-901, Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brazil Department of Biology, Laboratory for Crustacean Research, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, PO Box 42451 Lafayette, LA 70504-2451, USA, E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

The population of Paguristes erythrops (Crustacea: Anomura) was studied based on seasonal abundance, size–frequency distribution, sex ratio and reproductive period (percentage of ovigerous females). Specimens were collected monthly by SCUBA diving in the infralittoral area of Anchieta Island, Ubatuba. A total of 543 individuals was analysed. Animal size (minimum and maximum shield length, respectively) was 1·7 and 11·8 mm for males, 1·7 and 10·3 mm for non-ovigerous females, and 3·2 and 7·8 mm for ovigerous females. The sex ratio was 0·91:1. Sexual dimorphism was recorded by the presence of males in the largest size-classes. The absence of ovigerous females during winter months (June to August) and their high incidence from January to March indicated discontinuity in the reproductive cycle, suggesting that females become ovigerous and breed in the summer, with the spawning period lasting from spring to autumn. This strategy of reproduction probably was based on competition with other coexisting species in this area.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2001 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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