Population biology of Cymadusa filosa (Crustacea: Amphipoda) associated with Sargassum furcatum (Phaeophyceae) beds in a coastal area of Brazil with petrogenic hydrocarbon pollution

Abstract

This study aimed to assess population and reproductive aspects of the ampithoid amphipod Cymadusa filosa Savigny, 1816 in a region with pollution by petrogenic hydrocarbons. Sampling of Sargassum furcatum Kützing, 1843 fronds and the associated fauna was conducted in March, September and December 2007 and February 2008, on four rocky shores located on São Sebastião Island, southeastern Brazil. A total of 1372 specimens of C. filosa were recorded, including 934 juveniles, 274 females (60 ovigerous) and 164 males. Population mean density ranged from 1.27 to 6.40 ind/g with higher mean values in March 2007 and lower in December 2007 and February 2008. The total body length of males varied from 4.11 to 20.75 mm and of females from 3.58 to 20.22 mm. No significant difference was detected between male and female body length. The overall sex ratio significantly differed from 1:1 proportion and was skewed toward females (0.60:1). Ovigerous females occurred in higher proportion in February 2008 and presented mean fecundity of 26.01 ± 1.84 eggs/female (mean ± se), with great variation in the number of eggs found in the marsupium (between 1 and 56). Fecundity increased significantly with increasing female body length. The C. filosa population structure and reproduction were similar to those of populations in other locations, in Brazil and abroad indicating that pollution by petrogenic hydrocarbons in the São Sebastião Channel did not affect the population parameters of C. filosa in this region.