Abstract
C sapidus fisheries has a significant influence on the economy of some countries in North America and has a relative extensive literature in these regions. However, only few papers discuss the ecology of C. sapidus in the South Atlantic, despite its economic importance in that region. We studied the fecundity, reproductive seasonality and maturation size of C. sapidus females captured in the Southeast coast of Brazil from January to December 2002. Females were separated, weighted (Wt), and cephalothorax width (CW) was measured. Furthermore, the eggs-masses were classified according to embryonic development, separated, weighted (We) and fixed. Eggs were also separated and counted, resulting in the average number of eggs per individual (Ne). A total sample of 307 females was collected: 78 young, 130 adults and 99 ovigerous. Ovigerous females showed CW between 7.49 and 15.89cm with average of 12.21cm and were distributed throughout the sample period, with highest incidence between December and March. The onset of morphological maturity (L50) occurred at CW = 10.33 cm, and the size in which all were mature (L100) was CW = 11.20 cm. Individual fecundity ranged from 689 356 to 3 438 122 with an average of 2 006 974. The CW showed a positive growth trend with Ne and We. We concluded that in order to ensure the resource sustainability, it is necessary to prohibit captures of C. sapidus in these regions, especially during summer. Additionally, our studies suggest that the minimum capture size should be 11 cm of carapace width.
Highlights
IntroductionAmong the species of the genus Callinectes, the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun 1986) is the most economically important in the Western Atlantic, especially in North America, with a rich literature available for the United States of America and Mexico (Millikin & Williams 1984, Prager et al 1990)
Portunids in estuarine and costal ecosystems are typical of tropical and subtropical regions of the Western Atlantic
The predominance of adult specimens and ovigerous females of C. sapidus in the exit of Lagoon-Estuarine Complex of Iguape and Cananéia (SP) characterizes the sampling site as a spawning area. This area is very important in the life cycle of the species, in which mature and ovigerous females move to higher salinity waters for gonads maturation
Summary
Among the species of the genus Callinectes, the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun 1986) is the most economically important in the Western Atlantic, especially in North America, with a rich literature available for the United States of America and Mexico (Millikin & Williams 1984, Prager et al 1990). Despite this extensive knowledge on the topic, one cannot generalize the data collected as rules to be applied to other geographic regions (Mantelatto & Fransozo 1999, Ortiz-Leon et al 2007). Note that the quantity and viability of stored sperm are independent of female body size (Cargo et al 1958, Wolcott & Hines 1990, Dickinson et al 2006)
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