Biharean Biologist (2010) Vol. 4, No.1, Pp.: 1-5 P-ISSN: 1843-5637, E-ISSN: 2065-1155 Article No.: 041101
An exotic crab, Charybdis hellerii (A. Milne-Edwards, 1867) along the Turkish Coasts
Tahir ÖZCAN1,*, Tuncer KATA AN2 and Erhan IRMAK3
1. Department of Marine Biology, Fisheries Faculty, Mustafa Kemal University TR-31200, Iskenderun, Hatay, Turkey 2. Department of Marine Biology, Fisheries Faculty, Ege University, TR-35100 Bornova-Izmir, Turkey 3. Department of Hydrobiology, Fisheries Faculty, anakkale Onsekiz Mart University, TR-17100 Çanakkale, Turkey. * Corresponding author: T. Özcan, E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract. In this paper, recent information is presented on the distribution range of the exotic crab Charybdis hellerii in the Mediterranean Sea. According to the reproductive characteristics of the specimens collected the egg diameters ranged from 0.251 to 0.266 mm, and the fecundity varied between 42016 and 152583.
Key words: Exotic species, distribution, fecundity, Charybdis hellerii, Mediterranean Sea
Introduction This study indicates that the distribution of C. hellerii has extended from the Levantine Sea coastal region of Recent studies on exotic decapods have revealed the Turkey to the South-Western shores, where the presence of 75 species from the Mediterranean Sea Levantine Sea merges with the Aegean Sea (Göcek- (Özcan et al. 2010). Thirty-six of them are inhabitants of Fethiye) and Gökova Bay (Özcan et al. 2007a). the Turkish coasts (Özcan et al. 2010). In general, the ranges of the exotic species along the Turkish coasts are confined to the South-Eastern region. However, Material and Methods observations show that the range is extended through C. hellerii samples were collected from Iskenderun Bay at the the South-Western coast to Aegean Sea, even up to the South-Eastern coasts and from Göcek (Fethiye) at the South- Marmara Sea (Katagan et al. 2004). Western coasts (Figure 1). Charybdis hellerii (A. Milne-Edwards, 1867) is an In Iskenderun Bay, samples were collected from sandy- exotic decapod that was reported only from the Eastern muddy bottoms in monthly intervals between July 2002 and Mediterranean coast of the Turkey and Greece, from June 2003. Related information on this bay and the sampling Iskenderun Bay to Gökova Bay and the coast of the stations was previously given in Özcan et al. (2005). In Göcek, Greece Aegean Sea (Rhodes and Symi Island) (Kocatas samples were collected on 24 September 2004 with gill nets from rocky bottoms with algal vegetation at 3 m. 1981, Enzenross & Enzenross 1990, Yokes & Galil 2004, Carapace length (CL) and carapace width (CW) of the crabs Kirmirtzoglou et al. 2006, Ozcan et al. 2005, Yokes et al. were measured in both localities. In addition, eggs of the 2007, Özcan et al. 2007a). individuals were counted and spherical diameters of eggs were According to Galil & Zenetos (2002), the Indo-West measured with calipers to the nearest 0.1mm. Pacific portunid crab C. hellerii was first sighted in the Mediterranean off the Israeli coasts in 1924-1925 (Steinitz 1929), and has since been reported off Egypt, Results Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and Cyprus (Galil 1993, Zibrowius pers. comm.). Shipping patterns ensure that A total of 47 specimens of C. hellerii were obtained; 41 the Mediterranean exports as well as imports biota. In from Iskenderun Bay and 6 from Göcek (Fethiye) coasts. 1987 C. hellerii was collected in Cuba (Gómez & Measurements and enumerations of the examined Martinez-Iglesias 1990), and in rapid succession in specimens are shown in Table 1. Venezuela, Colombia, Florida, and Brazil (Campos & Among the 41 specimens sampled in Iskenderun Türkay 1989, Lemaitre 1995, Carqueija & Gouvea 1996, Bay, there were 33 males (80%) and 8 females (20%). Mantelatto & Dias 1999). Transport in ballast tanks is Maximum carapace length of C. hellerii sampled in the most probable mode of dispersal because the crab’s Iskenderun Bay, measured 78.0 mm (male) and 62.1 mm arrival corresponds to increased shipping contacts with (female). Length frequency distribution indicates the the Eastern Mediterranean (Campos & Türkay 1989). length of male ranging from 61 to 70 mm and females
©Biharean Biologist, Oradea, Romania, 2010 Biharean Biol. 4, 2010 http://biologie-oradea.xhost.ro/BihBiol/index.html Oradea, Romania 2 Özcan, T. et al. from 51 to 60 mm (Figure 2). Only one female with eggs smallest female was 55.3 mm. Eggs of Göçek specimens was obtained in June (39.4 X 59.5 mm). The number of were bright yellow in colour, with spherical diameters the eggs was counted as 45.539 and the diameter of eggs ranging from 0.224 to 0.266 mm. Minimum, maximum measured as 0.262 mm (Table 1). and average number of the eggs from 5 ovigerous The Göcek specimens were (1 male and 5 females) as females of C. hellerii were examined as 42016, 93913, large as 55.7 mm (male) and 61.1 mm (female). The 106994, 152583 and 98876 respectively (Table 1).
Figure 1. Distribution of Charybdis hellerii (A. Milne-Edwards, 1867) in the Turkish coasts.
Table 1. Measurements (mm) and enumerations made on Charybdis hellerii (A. Milne-Edwards, 1867) collected from Iskenderun Bay and Göcek (Fethiye Bay) coasts.
Male Female Egg No. of Rank CL CW Rank CL CW Rank CL CW Rank CL CW diameters eggs (mm) 1. 46 31 12 61 41 23 68 44 1. 54 34
2. 46 31 13 63 42 24 69 45 2. 55 36
3. 46 31 14 64 41 25 70 46 3. 56 36
4. 48 32 15 65 42 26 70 46 4. 58 38
5. 50 31 16 65 43 27 72 46 5. 60 39 45539 0.262
Iskenderun Bay 6. 55 40 17 66 44 28 73 43 6. 61 39
7. 56 37 18 67 44 29 73 51 7. 61 39
8. 59 39 19 67 47 30 74 48 8. 62 39
9. 60 40 20 67 45 31 74 49
10. 60 38 21 68 44 32 77 44
11. 61 41 22 68 45 33 78 51
1. 56 37 1. 55 35
2 56 36 42016 0.251 3 58 38 106994 0.266 4 60 40 152583 0.266 Göcek (Fethiye) 5 61 41 93913 0.265
Biharean Biol. 4, 2010 An exotic crab, Charybdis hellerii (A. Milne-Edwards, 1867) along the Turkish Coasts 3
18 16 14 12 M 10 F 8
Frequency 6 4 2 0 40-50 51-60 61-70 70-80 Carapace length (mm)
Figure 2. Size frequency distributions (carapace length, in mm) for male and female Charybdis hellerii (A. Milne-Edwards, 1867) from the Iskenderun Bay.
Discussion rocky and coral bottoms (Lemaitre 1995) and muddy sand beneath a stone (Yokes et al. 2007). According to More than 30 species of Charybdis are known from Indo- McMillen-Jackson (2008), this crab was caught and the West Pacific (Stephenson 1962). The genus Charybdis is substrate where it was caught was sand and crushed represented by three exotic species in the Mediterranean shells with rock outcrops. This species is found in soft- Sea, namely, C. hellerii (A. Milne-Edwards, 1867), bottom area in Iskenderun Bay and rocky habitats in Charybdis longicollis Leene, 1938 and Charybdis feriata Göcek coasts. (Linnaeus, 1758). Another Indo-Pacific species of this The largest specimen of C. hellerii sampled in genus (Charybdis sexdentata (Herbst, 1783)) was reported Malaysia was a male mesuring 51.1 X 79.8 mm (Wee & as single record from Israel. However, it was considered Ng 1995). A mature female (CW= 78mm) was collected doubtful by Holthuis & Gottlieb (1958). It is known that in Florida (Dineen et al., 2001). A female (CW= 64.6mm; C. longicollis and C. hellerii occur along the entire CL40.2mm) was collected in the Tampa Bay (Gulf of the Levantine coast of Turkey, Göçek and Gökova Bay Mexico) (McMillen-Jackson 2008). Indian samples show Aegean Sea coast of Turkey (Holthuis 1961, Kocatas that the maximum male and female carapace length 1981, Enzenros & Enzenros 1990, Yokes & Galil 2004, were 63.7 and 51.0 mm respectively (Kathirvel & Ozcan et al. 2005, Yokes et al. 2007, Özcan et al. 2007a). Gopalakrishnan 1974). Colombian specimens measured C. longicollis was reported to be present in 1986, 1997 as large as 74.2 mm (male) and 55.6 mm (ovigerous and 1999 from the Coast of Rhodes Island, situated female) (Campos & Turkay 1989). Maximum carapace between the Aegean and Levantine Seas (Galil & length in Brazil measured 75.0mm (male) and 62.0 mm Kevrekidis 2002) and the Datça Peninsula Aegean sea (ovigerous female) (Tavares & Mendonça 1996). In the coast of Turkey (Yokes et al. 2007). This suggests that Mediterranean common size for C. hellerii males were the range is enlarging through the west. On the other given as 4.6 cm and it was reported that the repro- hand, C. hellerii, the subject of this paper, was known to duction takes place all year around (CIESM Atlas of be present at the Gökova Bay (37º02'14"N 28º18'14"E) exotic decapod species). These reports clearly show that Aegean Sea so far Özcan et al. (2007a). According to the 78 mm male and 62.1 mm of Iskenderun Bay Özcan et al. 2007a, a short time after being caught in specimens were the largest following the Malaysian Göçek (Fethiye Bay). They were also reported from the males and Florida females. The smallest ovigerous Datça Peninsula (Yokes et al. 2007) and Gökova Bay female examined from Australian specimens of C. (Özcan et al. 2007b). These recent records of C. hellerii in hellerii was 47.0 mm (Stephenson et al. 1957). Eggs of the Aegean Sea coast of Turkey indicate that the current specimens from India were described as being bright range of the species is rapidly extending to the North of yellow, with spherical diameters ranging from 0.224 to the Aegean Sea. 0.322 mm. The invasive population in Florida is closely Observations of Göcek samples revealed that the associated with structured habitat near inlets (Dineen et color of the eggs obtained from 5 females with egg were al. 2001), whereas in its native range and in the eastern determined as the same and the diameter of the eggs Mediterranean, it is reported from soft-bottom habitats, ranged from 0.251 mm to 0.266 mm. Fecundity in C.
Biharean Biol. 4, 2010 4 Özcan, T. et al. hellerii is high and ranges from 22.500 eggs to 3.200.000 Bulletin of the Research Council of Israel, 7B, Zoology 1-2: 1- eggs per brood, depending on the size of the female 126. Katagan, T., Kocatas, A., Zengin, M., Ates, A.S. (2004): An indo- (Sumpton 1990, Siddiqui & Ahmed 1992, Lemaitre 1995; pasific Stomatopod from the sea of Marmara: Erugosquilla Özcan et al. 2007b). According to our five specimens of massavensis (Kossmann, 1880). Crustaceana 77 (3): 381-383. C. hellerii, minimum and maximum numbers of the eggs Kathirvel, M., Gopalakrishnan, K.N. (1974): On the occurrence of were counted between 42016 and 152583. Charybdis (Charybdis) hellerii (A. Milne Edwards) (Decapoda: As a result, C. hellerii, just like C. longicollis, can be Portunidae) along the west coast of India. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India 16: 286-287. said to be spreading through West and occupying all Kirmirtzoglou, I., Kitsos, M.S., Thessalou-Legaki, M., Tselepides, A., Turkish coasts of the Levantine Sea. The range of the Koukouras, A. (2006): Investigation of the progress and lessepsian immigrant species in the Mediterranean possible expansion of the limits of the lessepsian migratory extends to the Southern Aegean Sea. The habitat current regarding Decapoda (Crustacea). Poster, 10th preferences, spawning period, egg number and egg International Congress on the Zoogeography and Ecology of Greece and adjacent regions, Patras (Greece) 26-30 June 2006 diameter does not differ from that of known values of (Abstract: www.upatras.gr/zoogeography). the C. hellerii. However the maximum carapace length of Kocatas, A. (1981): Liste préliminaire et répartition des Crustacés both species is very close to the highest values of the Décapodes des eaux Turques. Rapports et Procès-Verbaux des early reports. Rèunions de la Commission Internationale pour l’Exploration Scientifique de la Mer Méditerranée 27 (2): 161-162. Lemaitre, R. (1995): Charybdis helleri (Milne edwards, 1867), a non-
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