Reproductive biology of the crab Halicarcinus planatus (Brachyura, Hymenosomatidae) in sub-Antarctic waters

Diez, Mariano J.; Lovrich, Gustavo A.

doi:10.1007/s00300-009-0716-0

Cited by 33 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…9 mm CW, Diez and Lovrich 2010), particularly during summer months (February-March). In addition to the morphometric change at the pubertal moult, where chela shows a first allometric positive change, some males exhibit a second morphometric change in their chela, being significantly longer and wider at 10.6 mm CW (Diez and Lovrich 2010). This pattern suggests that males continue moulting, likely corresponding to modal groups 6 and 7 (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…The terminal moult in males, if present, could occur at the moult stage corresponding to this second allometric change of the chela. By judging the size and abundance of these males in the population (10.1-13.6 mm CW, 6.2 % of male population; Diez and Lovrich 2010), it is probable that not all males pass through this moulting event. Furthermore, it is likely that the lifetime after the male terminal moult may be relatively brief and crabs die shortly afterwards.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To detect temporal variations in moult stages, both sexes were pooled into three size classes according to size of sexual maturity (Diez and Lovrich 2010). Males were grouped according to the following size intervals: 2.50-6.99, 7.00-11.49 and C11.50 mm CW.…”

Section: Moult Frequencymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Females were pooled according to the following intervals: 2.5-6.99 mm; immature females C7.00 mm CW and mature females C7.00 mm CW. The limit of 7.00 mm CW is the approximate size of the smallest ovigerous female and the smallest male exhibiting allometric change of the right chela, whereas the limit of 11.5 mm CW is the approximate size of a second allometric change in male right chela (Diez and Lovrich 2010). Then, within each month, sex and size class, the proportion of crabs for each moult stage was estimated.…”

Section: Moult Frequencymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It occurs along the south-western Atlantic coast from Mar del Plata (38°S) to the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego (54°S) (Boschi et al 1992;Spivak 1997). H. planatus is the crab most abundant in the intertidal zone of the Beagle Channel ) and the only decapod crustacean that reproduces twice a year in this sub-Antarctic region (Diez and Lovrich 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Moult cycle and growth of the crab Halicarcinus planatus (Brachyura, Hymenosomatidae) in the Beagle Channel, southern tip of South America

Diez

Lovrich

2012

Helgol Mar Res

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The crab Halicarcinus planatus is the only hymenosomatid crab that inhabits the southern tip of South America and is the only decapod species that reproduces twice a year in the Beagle Channel. In this article, we study the moult cycle in the field (moult frequency, analysis of size frequency distribution) and linked it with growth studied in the laboratory (absolute and per cent growth increment, Hiatt function). Hiatt functions were similar for males and females. Moult frequency was seasonal: in early austral spring and in austral summer. In females, the pubertal moult is the terminal moult, whereas males continue moulting after attaining the size of morphometric maturity. Moult increment was highly variable. The relationship between absolute moult increment and crab size was described by a quadratic function. Per cent growth increment decreased with size, and relationships were different for each sex: linear for females and quadratic for males. Seven and eight modal groups explained the size frequency distributions for females and males from the field, respectively, and revealed the existence of two cohorts of recruits per year. Further modal analysis was mainly hampered by the high variability of size increment that could make any moulting individual fall in its own or one of two following modal groups. The antagonism between growth and reproduction was evident in small males. We hypothesize that the terminal pubertal moult is an advantageous feature that allows females to maximize their investment in reproduction after their terminal moult, which allows this species to have two spawnings per year.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Moult Frequencymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Moult Frequencymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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