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Fecundity of the arrow crab Stenorhynchus seticornis in the southern Brazilian coast

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2003

Claudia Melissa Okamori  and
Valter José Cobo
Claudia Melissa Okamori
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Taubaté—UNITAU, Pça. Marcelino Monteiro, 63, 12030-010, Taubaté, (SP) Brasil, E-mail: cmokamori@hotmail.com
Valter José Cobo
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Taubaté—UNITAU, Pça. Marcelino Monteiro, 63, 12030-010, Taubaté, (SP) Brasil and Group of Studies on Crustacean Biology, Ecology and Culture—NEBECC, E-mail: vjcobo@uol.com.br
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Abstract

The arrow crab Stenorhynchus seticornis (Brachyura, Majidae), is a common inhabitant of the rocky subtidal along the Brazilian coast. Fecundity and the influence of environmental variables on egg production are investigated in this study. Information on egg size and egg loss through incubation are also provided. Monthly samples were conducted using SCUBA diving, from January to December 1998 in the Ubatuba region (23°25′25[double prime or second]S–44°52′03[double prime or second]W), south-eastern Brazilian coast. Early broods were used for the estimation of size-specific relationships of fecundity. Egg loss was assessed by comparing average egg numbers of early and late broods. The fecundity was estimated in 621.1±339.6 eggs, with an average diameter of 0.48±0.1 and 0.57±0.1 mm for early and late eggs, respectively. The number of eggs produced was apparently constant year-round. No significant differences were recorded among monthly fecundity values. The variation of abiotic factors did not show any relationship with temporal variability of fecundity, suggesting that the environmental effect in egg production is slight at best.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 83 , Issue 5 , October 2003 , pp. 979 - 980
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2003

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