Abstract
ABSTRACT Egg and clutch sizes of the fresh-water prawn Macrobrachium nipponense (de Haan) varied remarkably among local populations, corresponding to the hydrogeographic features of their habitats; spawning of many small eggs (approximately 0.05 mm3 in volume per egg) in a single clutch at river mouths, a few but large eggs (approximately 0.1 mm3) in inland fresh waters, and a moderate number of intermediate-sized eggs in brackish-water lagoons. The weight of egg mass deposited in one spawning also varied among populations from 15.6-24.3% in dry weight ratio to the female body weight. This change seemed to come largely from temporary environmental factors. Accordingly, the variation of clutch size among populations was partly due to temporary environmental factors, and partly due to the difference in egg size. This species is considered to be splitting into local populations with distinct reproductive traits through reproductive isolation in patchily distributed inland waters. Adaptive significance of varied egg and clutch sizes is discussed with emphasis on the role of larval dispersal.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
