A new species of Catapagurus A. Milne-Edwards (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Paguridae) from Brazil, with a key to the western Atlantic species

We describe herein a new species of Catapagurus, the twenty-second species of the genus. This is the third species of Catapagurus recorded from the western Atlantic and the second from Brazil; the remaining 19 species occur in the Indo-Pacific region.

Composition and Seasonal Variation of Brachyura and Anomura (Crustacea, Decapoda) Associated with Brown Mussel Farms at Praia da Cocanha, Brazil

The composition and seasonal variation of brachyuran and anomuran species associated with mussel farms were evaluated at Praia da Cocanha, Sao Paulo between May 2007 and February 2008. Nine mussel ropes were sampled at random in each quarter, and 1,208 organisms were identified, comprising five families and 28 species. The most numerous species was the porcellanid Pachycheles laevidactylus (18.5%), followed by the xanthids Acantholobulus schmitti (16.6%), Hexapanopeus paulensis (11.3%), Panopeus americanus (10.2%), and Menippe nodifrons (8.4%). The exotic crab Charybdis hellerii was recorded throughout the study period. The ecological descriptors, except Pielou evenness index, varied significantly over the time. The highest abundance and diversity of the species were recorded during November and February. This pattern was reversed for Berger-Parker dominance, with the lowest values recorded in February. The development of epifauna was correlated with the different stages of the mussel farms, since the mean size of mussels and consequently the abundance of epibiotic organisms and the structural complexity on the mussel ropes increased from May (seeding) until February (harvest). Despite this, the temporal population variations in recruitment patterns of the different epibionts should not be overlooked. The results indicated that the mussel farms provided favorable conditions for the development of these crustacean groups, which could be used in environmental monitoring programs and / or be exploited for the aquarium trade.

Composition and seasonal variation of brachyura and anomura (Crustacea, Decapoda) associated with brown mussel farms at Praia da Cocanha, Brazil

The composition and seasonal variation of brachyuran and anomuran species associated with mussel farms were evaluated at Praia da Cocanha, São Paulo between May 2007 and February 2008. Nine mussel ropes were sampled at random in each quarter, and 1,208 organisms were identified, comprising five families and 28 species. The most numerous species was the porcellanid Pachycheles laevidactylus (18.5%), followed by the xanthids Acantholobulus schmitti (16.6%), Hexapanopeus paulensis (11.3%), Panopeus americanus (10.2%), and Menippe nodifrons (8.4%). The exotic crab Charybdis hellerii was recorded throughout the study period. The ecological descriptors, except Pielou evenness index, varied significantly over the time. The highest abundance and diversity of the species were recorded during November and February. This pattern was reversed for Berger-Parker dominance, with the lowest values recorded in February. The development of epifauna was correlated with the different stages of the mussel farms, since the mean size of mussels and consequently the abundance of epibiotic organisms and the structural complexity on the mussel ropes increased from May (seeding) until February (harvest). Despite this, the temporal population variations in recruitment patterns of the different epibionts should not be overlooked. The results indicated that the mussel farms provided favorable conditions for the development of these crustacean groups, which could be used in environmental monitoring programs and / or be exploited for the aquarium trade.

Comparative analysis of shell occupation by two southern populations of the hermit crab Loxopagurus loxochelis (Decapoda, Diogenidae)

The present study aimed to comparatively verify the relation between the hermit crabs and the shells they use in two populations of Loxopagurus loxochelis. Samples were collected monthly from July 2002 to June 2003, at Caraguatatuba and Ubatuba Bay, São Paulo, Brazil. The animals sampled had their sex identified, were weighed and measured; their shells were identified, measured and weighed, and their internal volume determined. To relate the hermit crab's characteristics and the shells' variables, principal component analysis (PCA) and a regression tree were used. According to the PCA analysis, the three gastropod shells most frequently used by L. loxochelis varied in size. The regression tree successfully explained the relationship between the hermit crab's characteristics and the internal volume of the inhabited shell. It can be inferred that the relationship between the morphometry of an individual hermit crab and its shell is not straightforward and it is impossible to explain only on the basis of direct correlations between the body's and the shell's attributes. Several factors (such as the morphometry and the availability of the shell, environmental conditions and inter- and intraspecific competition) interact and seem to be taken into consideration by the hermit crabs when they choose a shell, resulting in the diversified pattern of shell occupancy shown here and elsewhere.

Estudio biológico de la cigala Nephrops norvegicus (Crustacea: Decapoda) en aguas portuguesas

Memoria presentada para la obtención del Diploma Acreditativo de Estudios Avanzados

Contribution to the biology and fishery of the deep-water red crab, Chaceon Affinis (A. Milne-Edwards & Bouvier, 1894) (Decapoda, Brachyura, Geryonidae) in deep waters of the Canary Islands (Central-East Atlantic)

[EN] This crab was captured in the whole range of depths sampled, although its highest abundance was found between 600 and 800 m, on muddy-rocky bottoms. Moreover, significant differences were observed in the average weight and length, according to depth of capture, island of origin, and date of survey. In general, the b parameter of length-weight relationship indicates a negative allometric growth pattern, although in some cases it was not statistically different from isometry, particularly in males. Males were heavier, larger, and more abundant in catches than females.

Efecto del color del oponente en el comportamiento agresivo del Grapsus grapsus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Crustacea, Decapoda)

[ES] El comportamiento agresivo del cangrejo moro (Grapsus grapsus) ante un modelo de competidor potencial no varió en función del color corporal de este último. No obstante, se observaron cambios en dicho comportamiento en función del tamaño del individuo residente, aumentado la intensidad de los ataques cuanto menores eran las asimetrías en talla

Influencia de la temperatura en el comportamiento y color de Palaemon elegans (Rathke, 1837) (Crustacea, Decapoda)

[ES] El camarón de charco (Palaemon elegans) soporta altos rangos de temperatura, pero a medida que ésta baja (hasta 5 ºC) comienza a reducir sus movimientos hasta quedar completamente inmóvil, casi en letargo. A este cambio de comportamiento va unido un cambio en la coloración del cuerpo del animal, que pasa de ser completamente transparente con tonos vivos azules y amarillos a ser translúcido, con azules y amarillos mucho más pálidos

Aspectos biológicos de Paromola cuvieri (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Homolidae)

Máster en Gestión Sostenible de Recursos Pesqueros

Struttura di popolazione in gamberi aristeidi (Decapoda, Aristeidae) nel Mediterraneo occidentale mediante l'utilizzo di loci microsatelliti

Il lavoro svolto durante il dottorato di ricerca ha permesso lo sviluppo e la verifica della attendibilità di marcatori molecolari neutrali (loci microsatelliti) specifici per Aristeus antennatus. Tali marcatori sono stati poi utilizzati per studiare la struttura genetica di popolazione della specie del Mediterraneo occidentale e i risultati ottenuti sono stati confrontati con quelli di un progetto di ricerca parallelo su Aristeaomorpha foliacea, analizzando differenze ed analogie fra le due specie. I risultati delle analisi su Aristeus antennatus hanno evidenziato una completa assenza di struttura di popolazione e come i due sessi contribuiscano in modo diverso al flusso genico. La specie infatti presenta un sex-ratio a favore dei maschi oltre gli 800m, mentre tale rappoorto è a favore delle femmine in strati più superficiali, dove sono probabilmente soggette a condizioni oceanografiche più dispersive. Tramite test genetici appropriati è stato possibile valutare indirettamente il grado di dospersione dei sessi dimostrando che nell'area analizzati i maschi erano rappresentati maggiormente da individui stanziali, mentre gli individui di sesso femminile erano migranti. Le femmine appaiono pertanto giocare un ruolo preminente rispetto ai maschi nel determinare l'entità del flusso genico. Il confronto dei risultati ottenuti in Aristeus antennatus con quelli di Aristaeomorpha foliacea ha evidenziato la relazione fra alta capacità dispersiva, sia allo stato larvale che adulto, e completo rimescolamento genetico nei gamberi aristeidi nel Mediterraneo occidentale anche se in quest'ultima specie non ci sono evidenze di dispersione genetica mediata dal sesso. E' pertanto di forte interesse (dato anche il valore economico di questi organismi) come una struttura di popolazione qualitativamente e quantitavamente comporabile venga raggiunta con dinamiche di popolazione molto diverse.