Reproductive biology and recruitment of Xiphopenaeus kroyeri in a marine protected area in the Western Atlantic: implications for resource management

Abstract

AB Aquatic Biology Contact the journal Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections AB 17:57-69 (2012) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00462 Reproductive biology and recruitment of Xiphopenaeus kroyeri in a marine protected area in the Western Atlantic: implications for resource management Ariádine C. Almeida1,*, J. Antonio Baeza2,3,4, Vivian Fransozo1,5, Antonio L. Castilho1, Adilson Fransozo1 1NEBECC (Crustacean Biology, Ecology and Culture Study Group), Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, São Paulo 18618-970, Brazil 2Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23435, USA 3Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, Fort Pierce, Florida 34949, USA 4Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile 5Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Baiano, Santa Inês, Bahia 45320-000, Brazil *Email: ariadine@ibb.unesp.br ABSTRACT: The potential of a recently established marine protected area (MPA) in the Western Atlantic, Brazil, as a ‘seed production’ and nursery ground for Xiphopenaeus kroyeri, an intensively exploited penaeid shrimp, was investigated in an attempt to reveal any future benefit of this new MPA to adjacent populations experiencing heavy exploitation. Overall, we observed that males and females >12 and 20 mm carapace length, respectively, contributed the most to reproduction in the studied population. Reproductive activity of X. kroyeri was continuous at the MPA; 2 annual reproductive peaks were recorded from March to April and from November to December, which were followed by recruitment events occurring from March to April 2009 and November 2009. Sediment, temperature, and algae and plant biomass floating near the bottom were relevant in driving reproductive activity and recruitment in X. kroyeri. The high reproductive potential of the studied population and the occurrence of abundant juveniles throughout the sampling area, indicating the existence of a nursery ground within the region, suggest that this MPA might provide important benefits in the near future. We argue in favor of future long-term studies on the larval dispersion, reproductive biology and ecology of X. kroyeri in MPAs and non-MPAs to construct a base for future management of this species and to aid stock recovery in fishing areas that are heavily exploited. KEY WORDS: Marine protected area · Xiphopenaeus kroyeri · Size at first maturity · Reproductive potential · Nursery ground · Environmental parameters · Stock recovery Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Almeida AC, Baeza JA, Fransozo V, Castilho AL, Fransozo A (2012) Reproductive biology and recruitment of Xiphopenaeus kroyeri in a marine protected area in the Western Atlantic: implications for resource management. Aquat Biol 17:57-69. https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00462 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in AB Vol. 17, No. 1. Online publication date: October 17, 2012 Print ISSN: 1864-7782; Online ISSN: 1864-7790 Copyright © 2012 Inter-Research.