Fecundity of crab Hepatus-pudibundas (herbst, 1785) (crustacea, decapoda, calappidae) in Ubatuba (SP), Brazil

The egg number and the rate in which they are produced constitute important informations for the comprehension of the reproductive process. The egg number carried by a female crab is related to a body dimension (carapace width or length). These data are adjusted to a linear regression. The specimens of Ii. pudibundus were collected in Ubatuba region, Brazil during the period from January 1991 to July 1993. In this paper 30 females with eggs in the initial embryonic phase were used to estimate ther egg number. The mean fecundity obtained was 75,615 +/- 30,120 eggs/female/spawn. Although the H. pudibundus fecundity was not high, it can be inferred that the larval survival in nature should be large, because it is one of the most abundant crabs in the studied area.

Weight width carapace relationship in the crab hepatus-pudibundus (herbst, 1785) (crustacea, decapoda, calappidae) of the Ubatuba region, SP, Brazil

In populational studies, the weight/width carapace relationship analysis, can furnish indications about the individual physiological variations as a function of the environment, and it can indicate sexual dimorphism. The goal of this research is to find the mathematical expressions of weight/width carapace relationship in the crab Hepatus pudibundus. This study was accomplished by analysing the crabs that were sampled monthly with a shrimp fishing boat equipped with 2 otter-trawl nets, during the period from november/1988 to october/1989. A total of 624 specimens were obtained composed of 244 males and 380 females. In each group the sex, the weight (PE) and the carapace width (LC) were determined. The obtained values agree with the studied range, showing variations during male and female development, represented by the potential function of the equation Y = aX(b). Such variations are probably related to reproductive strategies.

Appraisal of the chelipeds size on Hepatus-pudibundus (Herbst, 1785) (Crustacea, Calappidae) in function of sex and maturation

This paper appraises the influence of chelipeds on sexual and maturation phasis of the crab Hepatus pudibundus (Herbst, 1785), collected in Ubatuba (SP) region. The allometric constants obtained from the regression (carapace width X cheliped weight) adjusted to a power function (Y=aX(b)) were analysed. It was verified that males show larger chelipeds than females. The mean percentage of the chelipeds weight differs in sex and maturation.

The megalopa and early juvenile stages of Calappa tortugae Rathbun, 1933 (Crustacea, Brachyura) reared in the laboratory from South Carolina neuston samples

Neuston samples collected from the Charleston Bump region off the coast of South Carolina, U.S.A., during the summers of 2002 and 2003 consistently included a decapod species of undetermined identity with a large brachyuran megalopa. Despite their resemblance to some calappids, it was impossible to make a definitive identification based solely on general morphology. Therefore, additional neuston tows were taken on the continental shelf near Charleston, during the summer of 2004 to obtain these living megalopae. These were raised successfully through five juvenile stages at the Southeastern Regional Taxonomic Center (SERTC) laboratory. The morphology of the juveniles provided evidence that they are megalopae of Calappa tortugae Rathbun, 1933. Comparisons with megalopae of Hepatus epheliticus (Linnaeus, 1763), H. pudibundus (Herbst, 1785), Calappa flammea (Herbst, 1794) and Cryptosoma balguerii (Desbonne, 1867) are presented here. This is the first complete description of the megalopa morphology of a member of the genus Calappa Weber, 1795 from the Western Atlantic, and it is helpful for taxonomic, systematic and ecological purposes.

Selection and shell relationship in Isocheles-sawayai forest and Saint-laurent, 1967 (crustacea, anomura, diogenidae)

A populational sample of Isocheles sawayai Forest & Saint Laurent, 1967 was analysed in order to detect the validity of the shell aperture size as a parameter in the gastropod shell selection. The gastropods genus occupied by this hermit crab were: Thais, Buccinanops, Olivancillaria, Polinices and Cymatium. The power function (y = a.x(b)) was the best equation to represent biologically the regression analyses carried out among the measured parameters.

Population dynamics of Petrochirus diogenes (Crustacea, Anomura, Diogenidae) in the Ubatuba region, São Paulo, Brazil

This work examines the population dynamics of Petrochirus diogenes in the Ubatuba region (São Paulo, Brazil), focusing on size frequency distribution, sex ratio, and reproductive and recruitment period. Collections were made with two double-rig nets in the years 1993-1996. The 799 individuals obtained were separated into 14 size classes based on the length of the cephalothoracic shield. The shield size varied from 5.4 to 40.0 mm in males and from 5.7 to 32.1 mm in females. The size frequency distribution was unimodal for both sexes. Only small oscillations occurred in the sex ratio until the seventh size class, followed by preponderance of males. This suggests a standard pattern for the sex ratio in P. diogenes. As males were found in the largest size classes, they present a clear sexual dimorphism. This characteristic can be considered as a selective advantage, mainly during the mating processes and in the agonistic behavior. Ovigerous females were recorded in the spring and summer, indicating seasonal reproduction.

Fecundity of Callinectes danae Smith, 1869 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Portunidae) in Ubatuba region (SP), Brazil

The fecundity of C. danae in Ubatuba (SP) region was analized. The swimming crabs were collected by trawl during two consecutive years. Only females earring early developmental stage eggs were used in this work. The ovigerous females mean size based on the carapace width, except the lateral teeth, was 21.5 +/- 90 mm. The fecundity obtained from 29 ovigerous females varied from 363,660 to 826,638 eggs.

Os Brachyura semiterrestres Crustacea, Decapoda de Ilha Comprida, SP., Brasil

This work aims to analyse the faunistic composition of ''Ilha Comprida, SP, Brasil, in relation to semiterrestrial crabs. The collects were done during one year. The animals were handy sampled, and the colleting area comprised from Cananeia proximities to Icapara bar, towards north, including beaches, sand banks and mangroves. After each sample the animals were identified. The results obtained were similar those presented for other estuarine regions in São Paulo north coast. With reference to the species from Parana coast, we have got 2 species more. The crabs recorded are distributed in 3 Decapod families: Grapsidae, Ocypodidae and Xanthidae.

Composition and abundance of marine shrimps (Crustacea, Decapoda, Penaeidea) in Ubatuba bay, Ubatuba (SP), Brazil

This work aims to analyse the composition, abundance and distribution of the Penaeidea species which occur in the Ubatuba Bay (23 degrees 26'S and 45 degrees 02'W). The samples were monthly collected from October/1992 to September/1993. Each collect was composed of two parallel radials: the first (radial ''A'') was carried out in the mid region of the bay and the second one (radial ''B'') in the bay mouth. The trawls took one hour in a boat equipped with one otter-trawl (10 mm of mesh). The registered environmental factors were depth, bottom water temperature, granulometric composition and organic content of the sediment. After the trawls, the shrimp were separated from other marine organisms and counted. Eight species of shrimp were obtained: Xiphopenaeus kroyeri; Artemesia longinaris; Penaeus (L.) schmitti; P. (F.) brasiliensis; Trachypenaeus; constrictus; Sicyonia typica; S. dorsalis and Pleoticus muelleri. The most abundant species were X. kroyeri, A. longinaris, P. muelleri and T. constrictus. It was verified a very strong seasonality among the species. The X. kroyeri species occurred in both radials along the months but its abundance decreased from a November to March. Such fact is attributed to the temperature which reached a minimum value of 20 degrees C during this period. The species A. longinaris and P. muelleri were more frequent in the radial B which was caracterized by 14 +/- 1.3 m of depth, low organic content in the sediment (2.97%) and granulometric composition of medium sand. The distribution and abundance of these shrimps in the bay, beyond the hydrological features can be related to biotic factors as food availability, migration, inter and intra specific relations (competition, predation, etc.).

Biometric relationship analysis of the wet weight by carapace width to the swimming crab Arenaeus-cribrarius (Lamarck, 1818) (Crustacea, Brachyura, Portunidae)

The biometric relationship between the weigth and the carapace width in the swimming crab A. cribrarius was compared with the results from other portunid crabs studied previously. During November/1988 to October/1989, a total of 403 specimens (189 males and 214 females) were collected with otter-trawl nets in north coast of the São Paulo State, Brazil. The animals were measured (carapace width excluding lateral spines = LC! and weighed (wet weight = PE). The empiric points of this relation were fit according to the power function (Y = a.X(b)) for each sex, maturation phases and total of individuals. The relation PE x LC indicates that the mole's growth changes during the ontogenesys from isometric (in juvenile phase) to allometric positive (in adult phase). For the females the growth is isometric in the two phases. The weight grows in a higher proportion than the carapace width variable (allometric positive growth). The data can be grouped in a single equation (PE = 7.85.10(-5).LC(3.14)) for the convertion between the variables there was a greater similarity between the equations obtained far each sex. In spite of this, the males present the fattening grade value (''a'') slightly higher than that of the females, possibly because of the greater size reached in its devellopment. The mean weight of the males is greater than the females one (p < 0.01). In the range 80 proves 90mm the males were more abundant, probably due to the females terminal ecdysis is near this size. The females only have the mean weight greater than the males in the 60 proves 70mm range (p < 0.01) when the puberty molt occurs and they present morphological changes in their reproductive system.

Relative growth of spider crab Acanthonyx scutiformis (Dana, 1851) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Majidae)

The dimensions of chelar propodus and abdomen were utilized for the morphometric analysis about the relative growth studies of Acanthonyx scutiformis (Dana, 1851). A total of 297 specimens (114 males and 183 females), was collected in Ubatuba, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The animals were sexed and soarted to maturation phase (immature and mature). The following measurements were made: carapace (length and width), abdomen width and chelar propodus (length and height). In this study was applicated the power function (y= a.x(b)), in which the growth was considered positive allometric with isometric with b=1, and negative allometric with b<1. The alometry becomes isometric, when the results concerning immature and mature females and males are analysed. In the Brachyura male chelipeds are utilized in territorial defense, fight, display and courtship and female abdomens are utilized as a chamber that protect and incubate the eggs.

Fecundity in Portunus spinimanus Latreille, 1819 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Portunidae) from Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil.

The object of this work was to study the conditions of embryo development and egg production in Portunus spinimanus Latreille, 1819 at Ubatuba region of Brazil. The number of eggs laid by 21 females in a range of size was determined. Eggs at 3 differ ent stages of embryonic development were measured P. spinimanus fecundity varied between 188,065 and 682,992, with an average of 429,676 +/- 157,203, for animals with a carapace width ranging from 56.2 to 86.6 mm. Between the initial and final stages of development there was an increase of 55.1% in egg diameter. The relatively high fecundity of P. spinimanus may be a strategy of the species faced with a high mortality rate in the larval phase; however this hypothesis should be tested.

Distribution of Neohelice granulata (Dana 1851) in its northernmost latitudinal occurrence in a tropical mangrove forest, Brazil (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Grapsoidea, Varunidae).

Neohelice granulata ecological distribution was evaluated in its northernmost latitudinal occurrence in a Brazilian tropical mangrove (23[degree]13'4" S, 44[degree]42'47" W). Samples were collected in three sites along the main river in the mangrove. Crabs were manually captured by two people, 15 min each, at low tide periods. The sex of the animals was assessed and carapace width measured. The size-frequency distribution was determined in each site. Environmental factors (salinity, temperature, organic matter and sediment texture) were analyzed, compared among sites and related to crab abundance and size in each site. Crab abundance decreased with the distance from the sea. Juvenile crabs were more frequent next to the sea, whereas larger and ovigerous ones were mainly found in the most distant site. Crab size was proportional to the organic matter percentage in the sediment. N. granulata spatial distribution varies along the river course, which is probably related to the most productive areas that have more nutrients available; this may also occur in order to prevent intraspecific competition.

Growth and juvenile development of Uca maracoani Latreille 1802-1803 in laboratory conditions (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Ocypodidae).

The life cycle of decapod crustaceans can be classified into three distinct morphological phases: larval, juvenile and adult. Despite its recognized importance, studies of the juvenile phase have been neglected. The present Study aimed to analyze the growth of juveniles from a single population of Uca maracoani under laboratory conditions, and also to describe the morphological differentiation of pleopods in each sex. Megalopae and juvenile crabs or U. maracoani obtained on a Mud beach at Jabaquara, Paraty, on the southern coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), were reared in the laboratory. The specimens were checked daily for molts and deaths. The carapace widths (CW) of intact exuviae and dead individuals were measured under a stereoscopic microscope provided with a micrometer rule. These data allowed the definition of a growth equation as well as the stages related to the beginning of pleopod development, which begins when females reach 3.0 mill CW (6th juvenile developmental stage), similar to the sizes reported for other species of the genus. In males, however, pleopods appear when the crabs reach 3.5 mm CW, equivalent to the 7th developmental stage. This difference may be related to differential growth between sexes. It also may be a consequence of laboratory rearing, or may represent an actual feature of the species.