Abstract
Abstract Knowing important aspects of life history, such as size at sexual maturity, growth rate, and size at age, is critical for understanding species' population dynamics. For harvested organisms, these life-history characteristics are important in assessing the efficacy of fishery regulations. We used a 15-year database on stone crabs (genus Menippe) inhabiting west-central Florida waters to estimate these life-history aspects. Transition points in crusher-claw propodus length (PL):CW allometry and discriminant function analysis indicated that 50% morphological maturity (CW50) occurred at approximately 70 mm CW for males and 60 mm CW for females. Patterns in the proportions of physiologically mature (gravid) and functionally mature (ovigerous) females in 10-mm-CW size-classes followed the female morphological maturity pattern. The CW50 was significantly smaller than the mean size at behavioral maturity (participation in mating) in males (86 mm CW), but was not in females (62 mm CW). In both sexes, PL:...
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