COMPARISON OF THE EMBRIONIC PHASES FOR FECUNDITY ESTIMATION IN TWO SEMITERRESTRIAL CRAB SPECIES (DECAPODA: BRACHYURA) FROM SUBTROPICAL MANGROVES

NEGREIROS-FRANSOZO MARIA LUCIA; GUIMARAES FERNANDA; COLPO KARINE

Acta Ambiental Catarinense

ARGOS - EDITORA UNIVERSITÁRIA UNOCHAPECÓ

Año: 2004 vol. 3 p. 33 - 40

1677-7298

Fecundity has been extensively used as an indication of reproductive potential in Decapod species. Nevertheless, some standardization is necessary, mainly concerning to the adequate embryonic stage to achieve the number of eggs exteriorized by a female per spawning. This investigation compares the fecundity of two semitestrial crab species (Aratus pisonii and Uca thayeri) between two embryonic phases. Ovigerous females from Ubatumirim mangrove (23°20?18?S: 44°53?02?W) Ubatuba, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, had their eggs counted by a Motoda sampler split apparatus. All ovigerous crabs were form the same size range for each species. The median fecundity differed between the initial and final phases (p