Untitled

Abstract

PALAVRAS-CHAVE:Aratu; Biologia Populacional; Manguezal. BIOECOLOGY OF Goniopsis cruentata (Latreille, 1803) (Decapoda, Grapsidae) OF THE MUNDAÚ/MANGUABA ESTUARY-LAGOON COMPLEX, ALAGOAS, BRAZIL ABSTRACTConsidering the ecological importance of Goniopsis cruentata (Latreille, 1803) and the scarcity of studies about this species in the northeastern coast of Brazil, this paper aims to expand the knowledge of the bioecology of this species in the Mundaú / Manguaba Estuarine Lagoon Complex (CELMM), State of Alagoas, Brazil. The samplings of G. cruentata were monthly accomplished, in the months of September 2005 to July 2006, at four stations in CELMM. The specimens were identified, sexed and measured at carapace width (CW), carapace length (CL) and wet weight (WW). The sex ratio, the power regression correlating CL vs. CW and WW vs. CW, the catch per unit effort (CPUE) in terms of number of crabs / collector / hour, and the reproductive period of the species were obtained. A total of 585 specimens of Goniopsis cruentata were sampled, being 318 males and 267 females. The sex ratio for the total sample was 1:0.78, with males being more abundant than females. Males were significantly larger and heavier. The CPUE varied among sampling sites, being significantly lower at stations 1 and 4, the most impacted ones. The regressions between CL vs. CW and WW vs. CW revealed that the growth of males and females is allometrically positive. Ovigerous females were found in nearly all months of sampling. The present study provides evidence of environmental impacts in the population, through changes in the sex ratio and CPUE, demonstrating that this animal is a good bioindicator of impacts from deforestation and solid waste disposal.