Reproductive and population traits of the swimming crab Achelous spinimanus (Crustacea: Decapoda) in an upwelling region in southeastern Brazil

Reproductive biology of the swimming crab Achelous spinimanus (Decapoda, Portunoidea): a potential fishing resource

“…However, there are records of A. spinimanus reproducing seasonally, during summer and autumn, in Macaé, Rio de Janeiro (Andrade et al, 2017). This record corroborates the data from the North Hemisphere where ovigerous females of this species were found only in the warmer months (Dudley & Judy, 1971;Camp et al, 1977;Olsen et al, 1978).…”

“…This record corroborates the data from the North Hemisphere where ovigerous females of this species were found only in the warmer months (Dudley & Judy, 1971;Camp et al, 1977;Olsen et al, 1978). Thus, the reproductive pattern of A. spinimanus in Macaé (Andrade et al, 2017) represents a physiologic adjustment to local conditions. According to the authors, although Macaé is less than 500 km distant from Ubatuba, it belongs to a resurgence area and has colder waters, similar to regions at higher latitudes where the reproduction is also seasonal (Andrade et al, 2017).…”

“…They also showed that the reproductive peaks were not directly related to temperature, but to the presence of suitable conditions for larval development. On the other hand, in a resurgence area in the Southeast of Brazil, A. spinimanus showed a seasonal reproductive period Andrade et al (2017). Its estimated fecundity ranges from 188,065 to 682,992 eggs; this relatively high fecundity is a strategy shown by species with a high larval mortality (Santos & Negreiros-Fransozo, 1997).…”

Environmental factors modulating the bathymetric distribution of the demographic groups of Achelous spinimanus (Crustacea)

“…This species is considered an important element in the food chain, influencing the dynamics and organization of this environment (Bertini and Fransozo, 2004;Mantelatto and Fransozo, 1999). In addition, A. spinimanus reaches an appropriate size and its flavor is suitable for consumption, which makes it a fishing resource (Santos et al, 1995, Andrade et al, 2017. This swimming crab is distributed in the Western Atlantic, occurring from New Jersey (USA) to the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), where it is captured from the tidal zone to a depth of 90 m (Melo, 1996).…”

“…Ripoli et al (2007) studied its population dynamics in a coastal stretch of Frade Island in Vitória (ES). De Carli et al (2016) reported its fecundity and morphometry on the coast of São Paulo, and Andrade et al (2017) reported its reproductive and population traits in Macaé (RJ). Despite all these studies with A. spinimanus, nothing is known about the spatiotemporal distribution of its demographic groups.…”