Mean length at first maturity of the spiny lobster Panulirus argus (Latreille) off Ceará State, Brazil

Authors

  • Cira Nina Cavalcante Soares Pesquisador do Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (IBAMA).
  • Alberto Carvalho Peret Professor Adjunto do Departamento de Hidrobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Paulo.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32360/acmar.v31i1-2.31369

Keywords:

Panulirus argus, reproduction, mean size at first sexual maturity, Ceará State.

Abstract

Through samplings accomplished on board medium-sized commercial boats operating in depths from 10 to 90 meters on the continental shelf off Ceará State, Brazil, 23,413 females of /abster Panulirus argus were examined and measured in the period from January, 1984 to December, 1993. From the sampled females the gonads were drawn for  characterization of the macroscopic aspects of sexual development. The data analysis showed there to occur a lesser or larger incidence of  uveniles or adults in relation to depth of the sampling site. The mean length at first sexual maturity was influenced by the proportion of juveniles in the catch. For the effect of stratification to be lessened, the mean size at first maturity was obtained from data of the whole studied period. The cape size at which 50% of the females are expected to be spawning in the population is in the range of 79-80 mm.

Published

2018-03-05

Issue

Section

Artigos originais