Eyestalk ablation allows the removal of neurohormones that inhibit early reproduction and decreases the time to complete the molting cycle. The present study evaluated the impact of unilateral eyestalk ablation on the behavior of blue crab breeders Callinectes arcuatus in the short term under laboratory conditions. Immature male and female crabs and individuals in the intermolt stage were collected in Ohuira Bay, Ahome, Sinaloa, Mexico. Three bioassays were performed: males, females, and male-females each with three treatments; control + xylocaine (50 μL, 5%), squash ablation + xylocaine (50 μL, 5%), ablation by string ligation + xylocaine (50 μL, 5%), each with three replicas and three periods of evaluation after the ablation procedure (10 min, 2 h, and 24 h). Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square (χ2) tests were used to evaluate significances (P < 0.05) in the behavior of C. arcuatus. The sizes of blue crab C. arcuatus were 9.72 ± 1.0 cm of carapace width. The feeding behavior of the male-females bioassay was significant at 2 h (P < 0.05). The results obtained were satisfactory using two techniques, unilateral eyestalk ablation by squash and ligation in which pain and aggressiveness indicators were mitigated. Disorientation and aggressiveness in males were significant at 2 h (P < 0.05), and in females after 10 min, and 2 h after ablation (P < 0.05). In the male-females bioassay, aggressiveness was significant at 2 h (P < 0.05). Courtship and copulation were recorded in those crabs subjected to unilateral eyestalk squash ablation (13 and 8, respectively).
Fecundity in crustaceans is generally defined as the number of eggs produced by a female during<br />spawning season in particular and often expressed in terms of body size. Among the brachyuran<br />there is considerable variation in fertility. This study aimed to estimate fecundity in Cardisoma<br />crassum Smith, 1870 which is important mangrove ecosystem specie as it helps in the process of<br />degradation of organic matter produced by the mangrove forest. A total of 17 ovigerous females<br />were collected, with an average weight of 122.9 ± 32.54 g. The average carapace width was 60.03 ±<br />7.64 mm and 46.97 ± 4.6 mm in length. The ovigerous mass presented an average weight of 11.78 ±<br />2.9 g (fresh weight) and 1.612g ± 0.53 g (dry weight). The average number of eggs was 475457.6 ±<br />117316.8 and 317598.62 ± 116069.60 in fresh and dry weight, respectively. The number of eggs<br />accounted for C. crassum is in the range of eggs produced by other gecarcinides.
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