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Reproductive Ecology of the Xanthid Crab Eriphia Smithii Mcleay

1992; Oxford University Press; Volume: 12; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/1548719

1937-240X

Nasumi Tomikawa, Seiichi Watanabe,

Marine and fisheries research

Tagging studies of the xanthid crab Eriphia smithii were carried out from May-October 1986, and May 1987–October 1988 on a rocky shore near the Marine Station of Tokyo University of Fisheries, at Banda, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. At a separate location at Banda between May 1987 and October 1988, specimens were collected for laboratory measurement of the gonad index (GI). Spawning occurred predominantly in June and August, with nonovigerous females showing elevated GI levels particularly in late May and mid-July. From evidence from tagging experiments, the number of spawnings that occur over an intermolt period is 1 or 2. Molting and copulation in females occurred from June-September. Three types of reproductive patterns are used by this species at Banda: (1) Females molt and copulate in July-August, and in the following year spawn in June-July, releasing zoeae during July-August, after which they molt and copulate again during July-August. (2) Females molt and copulate in August-October and in the following year spawn twice between June and August, releasing zoeae from July-October. After release of zoeae they again molt and copulate (August-October). (3) Females molt and copulate early in the summer, between June and July, and subsequently spawn soon afterwards during July-August, and then molt and copulate during July-September.