<b> Fecundity variation and abundance of female blue crabs <i> Callinectes sapidus </i> Rathbun, 1896 (Decapoda, Brachyura, Portunidae) in the Patos Lagoon estuary, RS , Brazil </b>

Abstract

Female fecundity and abundance of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 varied according to size in the Patos Lagoon estuary, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Sampling was done near the mouth of the estuary from November 2008 to October 2009. Eggs were removed, weighed, counted and related to morphometric measures. We also compared abundance of ovigerous females collected in the spawning area with environmental parameters. The fecundity ranged from 152,799 to 2,573,576 eggs per female, and showed a positive correlation with carapace width. Ovigerous females were found from November 2008 to May 2009, and in October 2009. Fecundity of the species in the Patos Lagoon estuary falls within the limits found in other estuaries, suggesting a pattern in the reproductive potential of C. sapidus. The species has a spawning season well known to occur during the late spring and summer, and as such it is necessary to protect the entire stock of spawning females, as these individuals allow for recruitment of juveniles during the next breeding season.