Abstract
Poppiana dentata (Randall, 1840) is widely distributed throughout riverine habitats in Trinidad. However, there is a scarcity of information on the biology of this species. This study provides the first baseline examination that describes growth aspects for P. dentata. Juvenile crabs were obtained from berried females collected in northwest Trinidad. Carapace width (CW), length (CL), moult incident, intermoult period and qualitative aspects were recorded for crabs (N = 23) over 9 months. CW, CL and intermoult period were used to derive percentage size increment, specific growth rate (SGR) and size at structural maturity for both sexes. Growth curves and logistic equations were also generated for each sex. Hatched crabs (< 5 mm CW) underwent rapid hardening after their first moult, indicating a fast turnover of moult cycles. SGR and CW percent increment were also the highest for this initial moult (P < 0.05). CW, CL, intermoult period, size increment and SGR did not differ between sexes (P > 0.05), with logistic equations expressed as CW = 32.81 (1+exp (1.481 ̵ 0.031t))-1 for males and CW = 34.07 (1+exp (1.516 ̵ 0.027t))-1 for females. Yet, breakpoint analyses indicated dissimilar sizes for structural maturity (male: 28.40 mm CW; female: 16.84 mm CW). These patterns reflect a shorter life span for this species in comparison to what has been reported for other trichodactylid relatives. This can have implications for P. dentata populations residing in anthropogenically disturbed habitats; thus, highlighting the need for conservation strategies to ensure preservation of native wild stock.
Highlights
Trichodactylids occupy key functional feeding roles in aquatic food webs, serving as efficient nutrient processors of allochthonous and autochthonous materials associated with their riverine habitats
Most brachyurans, such as P. dentata, undergo discontinuous growth whereby increase in size takes place when their rigid, calcified shell is shed during ecdysis or moulting
The growth patterns and characteristics associated with sexual maturity of Neotropical freshwater brachyurans have been investigated in species such as Sylviocarcinus australis Magalhães and Türkay, 1996 and Dilocarcinus pagei (Mansur et al, 2005; Pinheiro and Taddei, 2005; Taddei and Herrera, 2010; Herrera et al, 2013) Stimpson, 1861, as well as Trichodactylus sp (Lima et al, 2013; Silva et al, 2014; Williner et al, 2014) Latreille, 1828
Summary
Trichodactylids occupy key functional feeding roles in aquatic food webs, serving as efficient nutrient processors of allochthonous and autochthonous materials associated with their riverine habitats. The growth patterns and characteristics associated with sexual maturity of Neotropical freshwater brachyurans have been investigated in species such as Sylviocarcinus australis Magalhães and Türkay, 1996 and Dilocarcinus pagei (Mansur et al, 2005; Pinheiro and Taddei, 2005; Taddei and Herrera, 2010; Herrera et al, 2013) Stimpson, 1861, as well as Trichodactylus sp (Lima et al, 2013; Silva et al, 2014; Williner et al, 2014) Latreille, 1828 For these trichodactylids, differential growth patterns were commonly noted across life stages and sexes with respect to dimensions of the carapace, abdomen and propodus, as well as the gonopods (Williner et al, 2014). Growth aspects for other freshwater brachyuran groups of the Eastern world were noted to grow inconsistently and were described by different levels of allometry (Gherardi and Micheli, 1989; Micheli et al, 1990; Tao et al, 1994; Araki and Matsuura, 1995; Stemmer and Schubart, 2013)
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Schedule a callMore From: Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia
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