Crescimento alométrico de Callichirus major (Say 1818) (Crustacea: Callianassidae) em uma praia arenosa do nordeste brasileiro.

Abstract

The burrowing crustaceans of the Infraorder Axiidea have as main representative Callichirus major (Say, 1818), known as ghost shrimp. The aim of this paper was to analyze the relative growth of C. major at Piedade beach, Pernambuco. The samplings were accomplished from December 2010 to November 2011. The ghost shrimps were sampled with a suction pump, sacrificed with alcohol and identified at the laboratory. A total of 389 individuals of C. major were sampled. The sexual dimorphism was evidenced, with males attaining larger sizes. Considering the carapace length as the independent variable, the growth of the total length was isometric for both sexes, while the chelipods showed positive allometry for both sexes, but with higher growth rate in males. While females direct their energy for the production and incubation of eggs, males invest in the growth of the body and chelipods, the last ones being important in territory defense and in reproduction. The growth of the telson was allometrically negative. The population of C. major at Piedade beach showed biometry very similar to other communities of the same family, but some variations were observed, due to intra and interspecific and biogeographic relations. . Key words: Axiidea, biometry, burrowing organisms, Piedade beach.

Spatial distribution and population dynamics of Callichirus major (Crustacea, Callianassidae) in a tropical sandy beach, northeastern Brazil

“…Along the Brazilian coast, this species is best known in the southern and southeastern regions (Rodrigues & Shimizu, ), where studies have focused on distribution patterns and densities (Pedrucci & Borges, ; Shimizu & Rosso, ), population structure (Simão, Ramos, & Soares‐Gomes, ; Souza & Borzone, ), population dynamics (Petracco, ; Shimizu, ; Simão & Soares‐Gomes, ; Souza et al., ), reproductive strategy (Peiró, Wehrtmann, & Mantelatto, ), and use as live bait (Borzone & Souza, ). However, studies of populations inhabiting the northeastern region are scarce, and reports of population dynamics, biology, and relative growth in C. major have been restricted to a single beach in the state of Pernambuco (Alves‐Júnior, Araújo, & Coelho, , ; Botter‐Carvalho, Santos, & Carvalho, , ), where the urbanization level is high and individuals of C. major are used as live bait. Thus, this study was carried out with the objective of analyzing the spatial distribution and population dynamics of C. major in a dissipative tropical sandy beach in the state of Sergipe, northeastern Brazil, where the urbanization level is lower and the use of this species as live bait is incipient.…”

Morphological study for understanding the sexual pattern in ghost shrimp Callichirus major (Crustacea: Axiidea)

“…Different crustacean species may present variations in the degree of differentiation between the chelipeds, which may serve to distinguish between sexes (Góes & Fransozo, ). Apart from their use to capture food, chelipeds also fulfill reproductive functions, as well as in the competition for territory and protection against predators (Alves‐Junior et al, ; Araújo, Negromonte, Barreto, & Castiglioni, ; Bueno & Shimizu, ; Hartnoll, ; Shimoda, Wardiatno, Kubo, & Tamaki, ).…”

“…LCh was categorized in two parameters: length of the larger chela (LCh la ) and length of the smaller chela (LCh sm ), as proposed by Alves‐Junior, Araujo, and Feitosa () in their study of the allometric growth in this species. The value of b obtained in the equation indicates a relation between the variables, determining the growth pattern.…”

“…The value of b obtained in the equation indicates a relation between the variables, determining the growth pattern. Hereby, b > 1 indicates positive allometry, b = 1 implies isometry, and b < 1 negative allometry (Alves‐Junior et al, ). A stereo microscope Leica EZ4 HD was used for photographic analysis and documentation of the macroscopic morphology.…”

Functional morphology of the male reproductive system in Callichirus major (Crustacea: Decapoda: Axiidea): Evidence of oocytes in the gonad

“…Few studies are available regarding the biology of the genus Callichirus; however, it is known that the differentiation between male and female individuals in C. major follows the classical pattern for decapod crustaceans, with female and male gonopores located on the third and fifth pereiopod pairs, respectively. Moreover, the males of this species present asymmetrical chela growth (Alves-Junior et al, 2013). In this sense, some studies have already been carried out on the population dynamics in species of the genus Callichirus, including C. major (Souza and Borzone 1996;Souza et al 1998;Botter-Carvalho et al, 2007;Hernáez and Wehrtmann, 2007), especially that of Lugon (2014), who evaluated the population structure of the species in the south coast of the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil.…”