SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online

 
vol.55 issue1Estructura de tallas y crecimiento de los cangrejos Callinectes arcuatus y C. bellicosus (Decapoda: Portunidae) en la laguna costera Las Guásimas, MéxicoDistribución y abundancia de la ascidia Ecteinascidia turbinata (Ascidiacea: Perophoridae) en Cuba author indexsubject indexarticles search
Home Pagealphabetic serial listing  

Services on Demand

Journal

Article

Indicators

Related links

Share


Revista de Biología Tropical

On-line version ISSN 0034-7744Print version ISSN 0034-7744

Abstract

ORTIZ-LEON, Héctor J; NAVARRETE, Alberto de Jesús  and  SOSA CORDERO, Eloy. Distribución espacial y temporal del cangrejo Callinectes sapidus (Decapoda: Portunidae) en la Bahía de Chetumal, Quintana Roo, México. Rev. biol. trop [online]. 2007, vol.55, n.1, pp.235-245. ISSN 0034-7744.

Temporal and spatial distribution of the crab Callinectes sapidus (Decapoda: Portunidae) in Chetumal Bay, Quintana Roo, Mexico. In order to determine temporal and spatial distribution patterns of Callinectes sapidus, samplings were carried out during the cold-front (January-February), dry (May-June) and rainy (August-September, 2002) climatic seasons, in 30 sampling stations of Chetumal Bay, grouped in sectors A (14 stations), B (eight stations) and C (eight stations). In each sampling station crabs were collected from two transects parallel to the coast, each with three traps, separated by 30 m. Sediments were calcareous coarse and medium sand, white or lightly gray. A total of 1 031 specimens were collected. CPEU (Capture Per Effort Unit) differed spatially and temporally. Highest CPEU was found in sector C with 1.3 ind∙trap-1, and in the rainy season with 1.1 ind∙trap-1. Population was predominantly composed of male individuals. The male:female ratio was 15:1. Males and adults (group II) CPEU was significant different between sectors and climatic seasons. Both males and adults (group II) had a greater CPEU in sector C (1.2 ind∙trap-1) and in the rainy season (1.1 ind∙trap-1). Abundance of female and juvenile individuals (group I) was low during the sampling period whereas group 0 juvenile individuals were not found. A greater relative frequency between sectors and climatic seasons were observed in 130-139 mm and 140-149 mm size interval (CW). C. sapidus occurred on sandy sediments in Chetumal Bay. Pearson product moment correlations exhibited significant relationships between CPEU and temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen. In Chetumal Bay, the spatial and temporal distribution of C. sapidus can be related to salinity, temperature, habitat quality, food availability, recruitment and reproduction events of individuals. Rev. Biol. Trop. 55 (1): 235-245. Epub 2007 March. 31.

Keywords : Caribbean; Chetumal Bay; blue crab; Callinectes sapidus; distribution.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )

 

Creative Commons License All the contents of this journal, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License