Biochemical composition of the Patagonian stone crab Platyxanthus patagonicus A. Milne Edwards, 1879 (Platyxanthidae: Brachyura) and its fluctuation through the reproductive cycle

JIMENA B. DIMA,; NORMA A. DE VIDOB; GUSTAVO A. LEALB AND PEDRO J. BARÓNA,B.

SCIENTIA MARINA

SCINTIA MARINA

Lugar: BARCELONA; Año: 2009 vol. 2 p. 423 - 430

0214-8358

Gonadosomatic (GSI) and hepatosomatic (HSI) indices, reproductive condition and biochemical composition of digestive gland, gonad and claw muscle of the Patagonian stone crab were analyzed through a one-year period. In females, maximum HSI occurred in spring (gonad recovery period) and summer (maximum maturity period). Maximum female GSI was achieved in summer, falling to minimum values in fall and winter. In males, highest GSI was observed during winter coinciding with a period of no active mating. For both sexes, claw muscle biochemical composition did not significantly differed between seasons, except for the significantly lower glycogen content observed in winter relative to fall and summer in males. For both sexes as a whole, claw muscle contained 72.4-81.2% moisture, 12.3-19.8% protein, 0.3-1.0% fat, 1.1-2.7% ash and 0.1-1.4 glycogen. In both sexes, digestive gland was the main storage site for lipids. In ovary, lipid and protein contents were higher in spring and summer, decreasing to significantly lower values after spawning, moisture showed the opposite pattern and both glycogen and ash contents did not show significant differences between seasons. In the testes-vasa deferentia complex, biochemical composition showed no significant seasonal fluctuation, except for higher moisture content in fall relative to summer and spring.