Latitudinal variation in the reproductive biology of the burrowing ghost shrimp Callianassa filholi (Decapoda: Thalassinidea) |
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Authors: | K Berkenbusch A A Rowden |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand Fax: 0064 (0)3 4795 825 e-mail: katrin.berkenbusch@stonebow.otago.ac.nz, NZ;(2) Benthic Ecology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, Devon, England, GB |
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Abstract: | Population structure and reproductive ecology of the burrowing ghost shrimp Callianassa filholi Milne-Edwards, 1878 were studied in populations along a latitudinal gradient throughout New Zealand during the breeding season.
Size-frequency distributions revealed unimodal populations, with predominantly sexually mature shrimp. All populations showed
an unbiased sex-ratio, and there appeared to be no significant difference in size (carapace length, CL) between sexes. At
the same time, CL and size at maturity differed significantly between populations; however, a general increase in sizes from
north to south was not consistent throughout the latitudinal range studied. The timing of the breeding cycle differed significantly
between populations, and breeding started earlier in southern populations. Number of embryos (fecundity) increased linearly
with female CL at each location, but rates differed significantly between populations. Embryo size was not related to number
of embryos, and the former increased significantly with latitude. With the exception of embryo size, observed differences
in body size/size at maturity and reproductive timing between C. filholi populations are thought to be determined by food availability rather than temperature. Thus, further study is suggested on
these aspects of thalassinid reproductive biology.
Received: 17 June 1999 / Accepted: 8 January 2000 |
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