Morphometry, size at maturity, and fecundity of marbled crayfish (Procambarus virginalis)

Publication date: Available online 5 July 2019Source: Zoologischer AnzeigerAuthor(s): Md Shakhawate Hossain, Antonín Kouba, Miloš BuřičAbstractMorphometric ratios, relationships and condition factors provide information regarding growth patterns, population dynamics and well-being of individuals in particular environments. Ecology of any species is then better understandable through life history traits and reproductive potential. The present study is aimed at exploring the morphometric and reproductive patterns of the parthenogenetic marbled crayfish, Procambarus virginalis. Marbled crayfish exhibited positive allometric growth and statistically significant common length-weight relationships. Abdomen width, claw length, width, and height increase significantly faster than the chosen most robust body size parameter, postorbital carapace length (POCL). Conversely, total length, carapace length, carapace width, and abdomen length grow proportionally slower than POCL. The condition factor was higher than the threshold value of ∼1 indicating the well-being of the crayfish used. Marbled crayfish, at their first reproduction, were recorded as long as 42.8 ± 10.8 (31.5 – 73.5) mm total length with a mean fecundity of 89.72 ± 56.9 (22 – 349) eggs. The relative fecundity (per 1 mm of POCL) of females reproducing for the first time was significantly lower compared to those reproducing repeatedly. Fecundity and relative fecundity exhibited a significant linear relationship wi...
Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - Category: Zoology Source Type: research