Population Structure, Recruitment, and Mortality of the Freshwater Crab Dilocarcinus Pagei Stimpson, 1861 (Brachyura, Trichodactylidae) in Southeastern Brazil
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Invertebrate Reproduction & Development ISSN: 0792-4259 (Print) 2157-0272 (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tinv20 Population structure, recruitment, and mortality of the freshwater crab Dilocarcinus pagei Stimpson, 1861 (Brachyura, Trichodactylidae) in Southeastern Brazil Fabiano Gazzi Taddei, Thiago Maia Davanso, Lilian Castiglioni, Daphine Ramiro Herrera, Adilson Fransozo & Rogério Caetano da Costa To cite this article: Fabiano Gazzi Taddei, Thiago Maia Davanso, Lilian Castiglioni, Daphine Ramiro Herrera, Adilson Fransozo & Rogério Caetano da Costa (2015) Population structure, recruitment, and mortality of the freshwater crab Dilocarcinuspagei Stimpson, 1861 (Brachyura, Trichodactylidae) in Southeastern Brazil, Invertebrate Reproduction & Development, 59:4, 189-199, DOI: 10.1080/07924259.2015.1081638 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/07924259.2015.1081638 Published online: 15 Sep 2015. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 82 View Crossmark data Citing articles: 2 View citing articles Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=tinv20 Invertebrate Reproduction & Development, 2015 Vol. 59, No. 4, 189–199, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07924259.2015.1081638 Population structure, recruitment, and mortality of the freshwater crab Dilocarcinus pagei Stimpson, 1861 (Brachyura, Trichodactylidae) in Southeastern Brazil Fabiano Gazzi Taddeia*, Thiago Maia Davansob, Lilian Castiglionic, Daphine Ramiro Herrerab, Adilson Fransozod and Rogério Caetano da Costab aLaboratório de Estudos de Crustáceos Amazônicos (LECAM), Universidade do Estado do Amazonas – UEA/CESP, Centro de Estudos Superiores de Parintins, Estrada Odovaldo Novo, KM 1, 69152-470 Parintins, AM, Brazil; bFaculdade de Ciências, Laboratório de Estudos de Camarões Marinhos e Dulcícolas (LABCAM), Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Av. Engenheiro Luis Edmundo Corrijo Coube, 14-01, 17033-360 Bauru, SP, Brazil; cDepartamento de Biologia do Centro Universitário de Rio Preto (UNIRP), Rua Yvette Gabriel Atique, 45, 15025-400 São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil; dNEBECC (Núcleo de Estudos em Biologia, Ecologia e Cultivo de Crustáceos), Departamento de Zoologia – IBB – UNESP – CEP, 18618-000 Botucatu, SP, Brazil (Received 14 May 2015; accepted 4 August 2015) Freshwater crabs of the family Trichodactylidae are widely distributed in major river basins of the South American conti- nent. The population structure of one species, Dilocarcinus pagei, was analyzed in an artificial reservoir in Southeastern Brazil, recording data on the sex ratio, recruitment, and mortality. A total of 1339 crabs were collected and included 804 males and 535 females (3 ovigerous and 4 with hatchlings); the sex ratio was 1:0.61 (males: females). Two modes of male and female carapace width (CW) were recorded, with means of 14.4 mm (n = 407) and 38.9 mm (n = 394) for males and 17.9 mm CW (n = 269) and 39.2 mm (n = 267) for females. The mean size of males (CW = 26.6 ± 13.8 mm) was significantly larger than that of females (CW = 28.5 ± 12.8 mm). The data indicated that recruitment occurs in sum- mer (January–March), with the reproductive period in spring (October–December), periods with the highest rainfall and temperature values in the region. Reproduction leads to the death of the parents, influencing the sex ratio, which oscil- lates mainly during the reproductive period. Keywords: crustacea; reproduction; juvenile recruitment; ecology Introduction diversity, population dynamics studies, sex ratio, repro- For crustaceans, knowledge of population characteristics ductive period, size at maturity, population delimitation, is important to develop conservation methods, mainly in and the relation of the species with different environ- species of economic interest such as D. pagei. Freshwater ments (Davanso et al. 2013; Herrera et al. 2013; Sharma crabs show several morphological, physiological, behav- & Gupta 2013; Williner et al. 2014). Approximately, ioral, and reproductive modifications, related to the inva- 20% of brachyurans inhabit fresh waters (Yeo et al. sion of this environment (Cumberlidge & NG 2009) 2008), and they can be found on every continent including low fertility rates with oversized eggs; epimor- (Cumberlidge et al. 2009). In the Neotropical region, they phic development; limited geographic distributions with a are represented by two families: Pseudothelphusidae, with high rate of endemism; and seasonal recruitment about 250 species distributed in South American moun- (Sternberg & Cumberlidge 2003). These features make tain systems up to 3000 m altitude (Rodríguez & species more vulnerable to extinction. The rapid degrada- Magalhães 2005), and Trichodactylidae, with fewer than tion of water bodies and intense overexploitation have 50 species distributed in Central and South America, alerted researchers and government agencies to the need inhabiting coastal plains (Rodríguez 1992) and the of monitoring brachyuran species inhabiting these envi- Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraná-Paraguay river basins ronments (Teodósio & Masunari 2009). In Brazil, 45 spe- (Magalhães 2003). The family Trichodactylidae is divided cies of freshwater crabs are listed in the IUCN Red List of into 10 genera, of which Dilocarcinus H. Milne-Edwards, Threatened Species (IUCN 2001), but there are relatively 1853, is represented by two species: D. septemdentatus few studies on this group of crustaceans, and this number (Herbst, 1783), found in northern South American drai- may be underestimated (Amaral & Leite 2008). nages, and D. pagei, with a wide distribution in South Several biological and ecological aspects of freshwa- America and found in the major river basins in Brazil, ter decapod crustaceans are still scarce in the literature, mainly in the Amazon and Paraná-Paraguay (Magalhães such as trophic ecology, behavioral ecology, functional 2003). *Corresponding author. Email: [email protected] © 2015 Taylor & Francis 190 F.G. Taddei et al. D. pagei has a cryptic, nocturnal life (Williner & management projects, studies on delimitation and pop- Collins 2002), and may even leave the water at night. ulation growth, individual growth, and reproductive During the day, these crabs are usually associated with aspects, providing essential information for a better macrophytes (Taddei & Herrera 2010). They are impor- understanding of the relationships of this introduced tant components of the trophic web, acting as organic species with the environment. matter processors (Melo GAS 2003) and mainly as saprophages. They are omnivorous, feeding on macro- phyte debris, algae (filamentous algae, diatoms, and other Methods unicellular groups), fungi, amoebae, ciliates, rotifers, Specimens of D. pagei were identified by observing the earthworms, and microcrustaceans (Williner & Collins carapace which is strongly convex in the antero–poste- 2002). These crabs are usually predated by bony fishes rior region, with six spines in the antero–lateral mar- such as Piaractus mesopotamicus (Homberg, 1818) gins, and by the presence of a transverse carina along (Peixer & Petreli 2007), cartilaginous fishes of the family the anterior margin of the third abdominal somite, both Potamotrygonidae (Almeida et al. 2010), terrestrial verte- for males and females (Magalhães et al. 2005). Indi- brates, including birds of the families Accipitridae and viduals were collected monthly from July 2005 to June Falconidae (Magalhães 1990; Olmos et al. 2006), didel- 2007, during the day, in Barra Mansa Reservoir (21°14′ phid marsupials (Aragona & Martins-Filho 2009), and 27″S and 49°56′28″W) (Figure 1), located in the Paraná artiodactyls such as the wild boar Sus scrofa (see Herrera Basin. Four collectors sampled for 3 h, covering an area et al. 1994). The species is an important element in the of 2 km2. Specimens were collected with sieves (3-mm transfer of resources between aquatic and terrestrial envi- internodes) and were found associated with the ronments (Collins et al. 2007). underwater vegetation, mainly Eichhornia azurea (Sw.) D. pagei is exotic in several locations in Southeastern Kunth, E. crassipes (Mart.), Salvinia molesta Mitchell, Brazil (Magalhães et al. 2005), where it has been intro- and Cabomba sp. and Egeria densa Planch. The crabs duced for use as bait for sport fishing (Taddei & Herrera were placed in plastic bags; females with eggs or 2010). The species is present in the majority of Brazilian hatchlings in the incubation chamber were stored in southeastern hydroelectric reservoirs and, owing to its separate bags. The crabs were transported to the labora- recent introduction, it is under intense selective pressure tory, which is approximately in a two-hour distance (Taddei & Herrera 2010). from the sampling site, and crabs were kept frozen Studies on freshwater crabs are still relatively sparse until analysis. Individuals were thawed at room tem- compared to marine species. Studies of D. pagei have perature and sexed according to abdominal morphology mainly examined population characteristics, such as and number of pleopods (Mansur et al. 2005). The growth (Mansur et al. 2005; Pinheiro & Taddei 2005b; carapace width (CW) was measured at the widest point, Taddei & Herrera 2010; Davanso et al. 2013), sexual between the bases of the last marginal spines, with a maturity (Herrera et al. 2013), fecundity (Mansur & precision caliper (0.01 mm). Hebling 2002), locomotor activity (Renzulli & Collins Specimens