Redalyc.Population Biology of the Mangrove Crab Ucides Cordatus
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Revista de Biología Tropical ISSN: 0034-7744 [email protected] Universidad de Costa Rica Costa Rica de Miranda Leão Leite, Marcos; Ferreira Rezende, Carla; Feitosa Silva, José Roberto Population biology of the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus (Decapoda: Ucididae) in an estuary from semiarid Northeastern Brazil Revista de Biología Tropical, vol. 61, núm. 4, diciembre, 2013, pp. 1721-1735 Universidad de Costa Rica San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Costa Rica Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=44930117013 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative Population biology of the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus (Decapoda: Ucididae) in an estuary from semiarid Northeastern Brazil Marcos de Miranda Leão Leite1, Carla Ferreira Rezende2 & José Roberto Feitosa Silva2 1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil; [email protected] 2. Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Campus do Pici, Centro de Ciências Bloco 902, Secretaria do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, CEP 60.455-760, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil; [email protected], [email protected] Received 08-II-2013. Corrected 19-VI-2013. Accepted 22-VII-2013. Abstract: Biología poblacional del cangrejo de manglar Ucides cordatus (Decapoda: Ucididae) en un estu- ario tropical semiárido. The mangrove crab Ucides cordatus is an important resource of estuarine regions along the Brazilian coast. U. cordatus is distributed from Florida, USA, to the coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The spe- cies plays an important role in processing leaf litter in the mangroves, which optimizes the processes of energy transfer and nutrient cycling, and is considered a keystone species in the ecosystem. Population declines have been reported in different parts of the Brazilian coast. In the present study we evaluated aspects of the population structure, sex ratio and size at morphological sexual maturity. We analyzed 977 specimens collected monthly over 24 months (2010-2012), in a mangrove of the Jaguaribe River, in the municipality of Aracati on the East coast of Ceará state, Northeastern Brazil. The study area has a mild semiarid tropical climate, with mean tem- peratures between 26 and 28oC. The area is located within the eco-region of the semiarid Northeast coast, where mangroves occur in small areas and estuaries are affected by mesomareal regimes. The population structure was evaluated by the frequency distribution of size classes in each month, and the overall sex ratio was analyzed using the chi-square test. Size at morphological sexual maturity was estimated based on the allometry of the cheliped of the males and the abdomen width of the females, using the program REGRANS. The size-frequency distribution was unimodal in both sexes. The overall sex ratio (M: F) (1:0.6) was significantly different from 1:1. Analysis of the sex ratio by size class showed that the proportion of males increased significantly from size class 55-60mm upward, and this pattern persisted in the larger size classes. In the smaller size classes the sex ratio did not differ from 1:1. The size at morphological sexual maturity was estimated at a carapace width (CW) of 52mm and 45mm for males and females, respectively. Analysis of the population parameters indicated that the population of U. cordatus in the Jaguaribe River mangrove is stable. However, constant monitoring of the population is required to detect any changes in the population attributes that may affect this stability. Rev. Biol. Trop. 61 (4): 1721-1735. Epub 2013 December 01. Key words: allometry, population structure, fishery management, sex ratio, size at sexual maturity. The study of population biology furthers & Negreiros-Fransozo, 1999; Conde et al., our understanding of the ecological stability 2000; Cobo, 2005; Litulo, 2005; Benetti et al., of a species in a particular habitat (Castiglioni 2007; Bezerra & Mathews-Cascon, 2007; Kas- et al., 2006). Population parameters of brachy- suga et al., 2008; Gregati & Negreiros-Franso- uran crabs have been investigated by analyzing zo, 2009; Hartnoll et al., 2009; Castiglioni et the distribution of individuals in size class, sex al., 2011; Araújo et al., 2012). ratio, range in size at sexual maturity, reproduc- The size-frequency distribution of a tive cycle, fecundity, and juvenile recruitment population is a dynamic characteristic that (Thurman, 1985; Díaz & Conde, 1989; Flores can change during the year, as a result of Rev. Biol. Trop. (Int. J. Trop. Biol. ISSN-0034-7744) Vol. 61 (4): 1721-1735, December 2013 1721 reproduction and larval recruitment (Thurman, al., 2008), as it allows the establishment of a 1985). In crab populations of tropical regions, minimum size at capture (Lizzárraga-Cubedo the distribution of individuals in size classes et al., 2003; Corgos & Freire, 2006). has been found to be unimodal (Díaz & Conde, The mangrove crab Ucides cordatus is dis- 1989; Diele et al., 2005; Litulo, 2005; Fer- tributed from Florida, USA to the coast of Santa nandes-Góes et al., 2005; Gregati & Negreiros- Catarina, Brazil (Melo, 1996). It inhabits the Fransozo, 2009), suggesting stable populations mangroves of the intertidal zone, where it digs with constant rates of mortality and recruitment burrows in the sediment, each occupied by (Hartnoll & Bryant, 1990). a single individual (Costa, 1972; Alcântara- In natural populations, the proportion of Filho, 1978; Nascimento, 1993; Góes et al., males and females at birth tends to be 1:1 2010). The species plays an important role (Fisher 1930). After birth, many factors can in processing leaf litter in mangroves, which affect this relationship, such as mortality rates, optimizes the processes of energy transfer and longevity and growth, predation, migration, nutrient cycling (Nordhaus & Wolff, 2007). utilization of different habitats by two sexes Therefore, where it occurs, U. cordatus is (Wenner, 1972; Hartnoll et al., 2009), and pro- considered a keystone species in the ecosystem cesses related to reproductive events (Gregati (Schories et al., 2003). Besides, this species has & Negreiros-Fransozo, 2009). a seasonal breeding period, which along the The concept of age/size at the onset of Brazilian coast is between December and April sexual maturity is essential for understanding (Ivo & Gesteira, 1999). the reproductive strategy and fitness of indi- U. cordatus has significant economic viduals of a species, as factors determining the importance as a fishery resource in estuarine reproductive potential (McQuaid et al., 2006; regions, principally in Northeast Brazil, and its Castiglioni & Coelho, 2011). Sexual maturity exploitation involves an extensive production is an important regulator of population dynam- chain (Ibama, 1994; Ivo & Gesteira, 1999; ics, influencing demography and recruitment Glaser & Diele, 2004). The fishery for this rates (Gerhart & Bert, 2008). crustacean is selective by size and sex. In gen- Physiological and morphological changes eral, females and specimens with a carapace that enable the appearance of secondary sexual width less than six centimetres are rejected in traits responsible for the transition from the favour of larger specimens, preferably males juvenile to adult phase characterize the onset of (Botelho et al., 2000; Paiva, 1997; Passos & Di sexual maturity in crustaceans (Hartnoll, 1978). Beneditto, 2005; Leite et al., 2006; Fernandes In this case, early maturity in brachyurans can & Carvalho, 2007). Declines in U. cordatus be detected by changes in the growth propor- populations have been reported in many coastal tions (relative or allometric) of structures asso- regions of Brazil (Diele et al., 2005, Legat et ciated with secondary sexual characteristics al., 2005; Mendonça & Pereira, 2009), and cur- such as the cheliped in males and the abdomen rently, this crustacean is included in the list of width in females (Hartnoll, 1974; Hartnoll, species threatened by overexploitation (MMA 1982; Pinheiro & Fransozo, 1998). Its onset - Ministério do Meio Ambiente, 2004). occurs when an individual reaches a certain In the area evaluated in this study, popula- size, and can vary greatly both among popula- tions of U. cordatus are potentially subject to tions of the same species and among individu- impact factors related to dams, shrimp aqua- als within a population (Fonteles-Filho, 1989). culture and fishing, as well as weather and Size at sexual maturity is a key parameter for typical climatic adversities such as scarce and the development of management plans for irregular rainfall distribution. These character- commercially exploited species (González- istics can potentially affect biological traits of Gurriarán & Freire, 1994; Pinheiro & Fran- populations (Marins et al., 2003). The study sozo, 1998; McQuaid et al., 2006; Rostant et aimed to generate data as a basis for monitoring 1722 Rev. Biol. Trop. (Int. J. Trop. Biol. ISSN-0034-7744) Vol. 61 (4): 1721-1735, December 2013 and conservation of this population, following afternoon and collected the following morning, an approach based on Life History Theory, after approximately 12h. Individuals collected focusing on size structure, sex ratio and size were killed by temperature shock at 3oC in a at sexual maturity. This population