Fernando L. M. Mantelatto, Vera F. Alarcon, Renata B. Garcia, Eggs Development Strategies of your own Tropical Hermit Crab Paguristes Tortugae regarding Brazil, Journal out-of Crustacean Biology, Volume twenty-two, Matter dos, 1975-99990246
Conceptual
The aim of the present study was to characterize the total and seasonal fecundity of the hermit crab Paguristes tortugae as well as the influence of shell type on fecundity using the morphometric relationship. Ovigerous females were collected monthly from January to December, 1998, in the infralittoral region of Anchieta Island. Samplings were performed using SCUBA. The hermit crabs and the gastropod shells were measured. Hermit wet weight and shell dry weight were recorded. For the fecundity analysis, only ovigerous females with the eggs in the early phase of development were selected. The number of eggs carried by individuals of several sizes (shield length), condition of development, and egg size were determined. A high percentage (%) of ovigerous females with eggs in the early phase of development were captured, with a low frequency (4.29%) of females with eggs in the final stage of development. Size-frequency distribution during the months showed two peaks in the ovigerous female population (2.5 to 3.4 mm and 4.0 to 5.4 mm of SL). |$ <\rm>\pm <\rm>$| fecundity was |$132 \pm 102$| eggs and tended to increase with increasing SL. No significant difference in fecundity occurred among the various seasons of the year. The results showed continuous and elevated reproduction of P. tortugae, with a high reproductive potential for the population. The pattern of the frequency distribution of ovigerous females tending to bimodality may be characteristic of a population with a two-year life cycle. Considering the four shells most occupied by P. tortugae (Pisania auritula, Cerithium atratum, Morula nodulosa, and Leucozonia nassa), the highest fecundity was observed for ovigerous females occupying larger shells (P. auritula and L. nassa). The reproductive aspects of P. tortugae were related to strategies developed to compensate for interspecific competition, i.e., high and continuous reproductive effort, early maturity, low fecundity, and larger eggs produced.
Degree into reproductive measures out-of Anomura was basically eliciting expanding interest in look at the fact that hermit crabs show an interesting classification out of a physiological and you will evolutionary opinion ( Mantelatto and you will Garcia, 1999). This community comprises more 800 types of this new hermit crabs worldwide and it has gone through significant change ( Ingle, 1993).
Hermit crabs represent an essential part of the of many intertidal and you will modestly deep benthic groups, in which it enjoy an important role regarding the aquatic food chain ( Fransozo and Mantelatto, 1998). Nevertheless, partners research has come conducted with the lives history or reproductive environment off hermit crabs compared to most other decapods.
Fecundity is an important factor in crustaceans, among others, to own 
deciding the fresh reproductive potential regarding a kinds and you can/otherwise of your stock measurements of an inhabitants ( Mantelatto and Fransozo, 1997), possibly explaining new reproductive adjustment in order to environment standards ( Sastry, 1983). Hermit crabs particularly, while they live-in gastropod shells, manage a way to research the telecommunications between financing and you will reproductive strategy. Based on Wilber (1989), an excellent female’s cover make a difference to the lady breeding of the determining whether or not otherwise not she gets ovigerous and you will/or limiting the amount of eggs delivered. Which writer felt multiple regions of the newest layer-size/breeding matchmaking, especially concerning the differences in egg manufacturing regarding the fresh new varieties, dimensions, regularity, and you can lbs of your own cover occupied.
Eggs Design Methods of your own Tropical Hermit Crab Paguristes Tortugae off Brazil
On top of that, about three groups of hermit crab specifically (we.elizabeth., the new genera Pagurus and you can Paguristes, as well as the “Pylopagurus-like” species), have been an emotional classification to review because the of numerous species was known out-of singular otherwise a number of localities, and several still-undescribed kinds are known to occur in the spot, ultimately causing considerable identification troubles one of experts and you can nonspecialists alike ( Hendrickx and Harvey, 1999). Paguristes tortugae Schmitt, 1933, is a relatively preferred types distributed regarding the Western Atlantic regarding Florida to help you Brazil (due to the fact much south since the Santa Catarina County) ( Rieger and Giraldi, 1997; Melo, 1999). Despite the partners documents available on the overall biology out of pagurids, P. tortugae has been seemingly well studied (come across Mantelatto and Sousa, when you look at the press, for comment).