Reproductive pattern of the South American endemic shrimp Artemesia longinaris (Decapoda: Penaeoidea), off São Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract

Sexual maturity, temporal reproductive pattern, and recruitment of juveniles were examined for the penaeoid shrimp Artemesia longinaris sampled for five and a half years in a tropical locality off the coast of São Paulo (23º S), Brazil. Monthly samples were taken from January 1998 to June 2003 at depths between 5 and 45 m. Ovarian maturity was used to examine breeding in adult females. Recruitment was defined as the percentage of juveniles of the total number of individuals in each month and season. A total of 10 288 females and 5 551 males were collected. Estimated sizes (carapace length) at the onset of sexual maturity were 11.0 mm and 13.4 mm for males and females, respectively. Over the five and a half years, females with ripe gonads were found in every season, with the highest percentages in summer (January-March). Juvenile shrimps occurred year-round. These results suggest a continuous reproduction of A. longinaris with temperature acting as an environmental stimulus for the duration of the ovary development cycle. These data and the hypothesis of the intrusion of the South Atlantic Central Water mass, which lowered water temperature and raised plankton production, suggest that the end of spring and the beginning of summer were the principal reproductive months. The classical paradigm of continuous reproduction at lower latitudes, with increased seasonality of breeding period at higher latitudes seems to apply to this species. Rev. Biol. Trop. 55 (Suppl. 1): 39-48. Epub 2007 June, 29.

Population biology of the commercially exploited shrimp Artemesia longinaris (Decapoda: Penaeidae) in an upwelling region in the Western Atlantic: comparisons at different latitudes

“…Generally, female size values on maximum CL, mean CL, and CL at maturity were similar to the ones found by Semensato and Di Beneditto (2008) in Farol de São Tomé, a region of same latitude as the study area (22° S). The values were higher than those found by Castilho et al (2007b), Costa et al (2010) and Dumont and D'Incao (2008), in the latitudes of 23° S, 27° S and 32° S, respectively. However, at higher latitudes of South American (Argentina) those values become higher again, according to Castilho et al (2007a) (37° S) and Boschi and Mistakidis (1966) (43° S) (Table 3).…”

“…Probably, the environmental scenery of the studied region that is similar to thermic pattern of colder areas might have enabled the maintenance or both reproductive females and recruits. However, Castilho et al (2007bCastilho et al ( , 2008 did not record effective spawning for A. longinaris and P. muelleri in the northern coast of São Paulo State.…”

“…Several authors have suggested that temperature has an important influence on regulating spawning periods in penaeids (Bauer and Lin, 1994;Nascimento, 1981;Castilho et al, 2007b). Probably, the environmental scenery of the studied region that is similar to thermic pattern of colder areas might have enabled the maintenance or both reproductive females and recruits.…”

“…The reproductive status of adult females was determined by macroscopic observation of the degree of ovarian development (color and volume occupied by the gonads) according to Castilho et al (2007b). Ovaries categorized as immature varied from thin and transparent strands to thicker strands.…”

“…Recently, mainly in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Santa Catarina States, information about population, breeding dynamics (Castilho et al, 2007a, b;Semensato and Di Benedito, 2008;Costa et al, 2010), and ecological distribution Costa et al, 2005) have been obtained and these authors state that longevity, size at onset of sexual maturity and maximum carapace length increase at higher latitudes. According to Castilho et al (2007b) reproduction and juvenile recruitment on the coast of São Paulo (tropical = 23°S) are continuous, whereas in Mar del Plata (cool-temperate = 37°S) these events are seasonal.…”