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Abstract
Population dynamics and reproductive activity of the amphipod Deshayesorchestia deshayesii were studied monthly from June 2007 to December 2008 in Bizerta beach. During this period, 6577 specimens of D. deshayesii were identified; the sex ratio was female biased, with a mean of the monthly sex ratios equal to 0.21 ± 0.12. Due to the absence of embryos or eggs in the female brood pouches and juveniles in the samples, results suggested that the reproductive season extended from April to November, with a sexual resting period during winter from December to March. Brood size varied between 4 and 17 eggs and fecundity appeared to be correlated with female size. Six cohorts were identified on the first sampling date. Additionally, 12 new cohorts were detected during the study period. Life span was estimated at 5–7 months depending on the time of birth. Cohorts that appeared at the beginning of the reproductive period tended to have shorter lives than those born later in the season. These results suggest that D. deshayesii can be considered as a semi-annual species, with iteroparous females.
Funding
The study was supported by the Research Unit of Animal Biology and Evolutionary Systematics [grant number UR11ES11], Faculty of Science of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar.