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摘要
Determination of sexual maturity of Ucides cordatus (Crustacea, Brachyura, Ucididae), in two mangrove areas of the south coast of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. This study aims to determine the size at morphological and physiological maturity of males and females at two populations of Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) from Tamandare, Pernambuco, Brazil. Crabs were sampled monthly from April 2008 to March 2009 at the Ariquinda and Mamucabas mangroves by professional crab catchers during ebb tide in three replicates (25 m(2) each, 20 m between plots). Crabs collected were sexed and measured (carapace width, cheliped propodus length of males and abdomen width of the fifth somite of females). Besides, the crabs were characterized according its gonad development stage. For the physiological maturity determination, crabs were arranged in two groups: juvenile crabs (specimens that showed immature and rudimentary gonads) and adult crabs (specimens with gonads at the stages classified as developing, developed, advanced or spent). The carapace width size in which 50% of males and females were considered morphologically mature was 38.0 and 35.4 mm (Ariquinda) and 37.3 and 32.9 mm (Mamucabas), respectively. Therefore, the size at physiological maturity of males and females occurred with 38.5 and 37.8 mm (Ariquinda) and 36.2 and 35.8 mm, respectively (Mamucabas). Males attain morphological maturity at a higher size than females, probably due to a major investment in their somatic growth, while females spend their energy in the reproductive process. Crabs from Mamucabas mangrove attained sexual maturity at smaller sizes than Ariquinda, probably because the more impacted situation of the primer mangrove.
- 出版日期2011-6-30
