Geographical variation in fecundity and reproductive investment of Loxopagurus loxochelis (Decapoda: Anomura: Diogenidae) along the south-eastern coast of Brazil

ABSTRACT

We aimed to study the fecundity and reproductive investment of Loxopagurus loxochelis under different environmental conditions. In total, 67 ovigerous females were analyzed, 20 from Macaé, 26 from Ubatuba and 21 from Cananéia. The cephalothoracic shield length, fecundity and reproductive investment (Ubatuba 10.2%, Macaé 8.9% and Cananéia 7.5%) were different among the regions (ANCOVA, p < 0.05), caused by different abiotic resources and environmental characteristics found in each sampling region. Cananéia had the smallest individuals and low availability of adequate shells to hermit crabs, a condition that may have affected the growth and reproduction of the animals. Macaé has a continuous transport of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus to the surface promoted by the Cabo Frio Upwelling zone, which may be a favourable condition for plankton production and, consequently, the extended ‘match/mismatch’ adjustment of spawning females of L. loxochelis. We propose that the highest reproductive investment on the Ubatuba coast is a consequence of regional environmental scenarios of waters colder than the Cananéia region, i.e. females concentrate more energy to reproduce seasonally. Thus, we proved that patterns of L. loxochelis’ reproduction can change on a regional scale according to the local condition of shell supply and water temperature.

KEYWORDS:

• Bycatch
• trawling
• Anomura
• ecology

Acknowledgments

We thank many colleagues from the NEBECC group who helped with sampling and laboratory analyses; and the ‘Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis’ (IBAMA) for granting permission to collect the animals.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo - FAPESP grant number Temático Biota [2010/50188-8]; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal Nível Superior (CAPES∕Ciências do Mar, processo: #23038.004310/2014-85).