Comparative population dynamics of fiddler crab species (crustacea, ocypodidae) in two mangrove areas in northeast brazilian coast
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.6008/CBPC2318-2881.2022.003.0004Keywords:
Fiddler crabs, Population structure, Estuaries, PernambucoAbstract
This study was accomplished to compare different populations of fiddler crabs from two mangroves with different degree of antropic impact, located in southern Pernambuco. A total of 7,874 fiddler crabs were sampled in the preserved mangrove of the Ariquindá River (3,705) and in the impacted mangrove of the Mamucabas River (4,169). They belonged to seven species: Minuca burgersi (Holthuis, 1967), M. rapax (Smith, 1870), M. victoriana (von Hagen, 1987), Leptuca cumulanta (Crane, 1943), L. leptodactyla (Rathbun, in Rankin, 1898), L. thayeri (Rathbun, 1900) and Uca maracoani (Latreille, 1803) (only in Ariquindá River). Most species were recorded in all months of the study period. Leptuca leptodactyla and L. thayeri strongly dominated in both mangroves. Leptuca leptodactyla males were larger than females, but the inverse was observed in L. thayeri, and in M. burgersi and L. cumulanta, males and females had the same average size. The unimodality in the distribution of size-frequency in M. burgersi, L. cumulanta, L. leptodactyla, M. rapax, and L.thayeri shows the stability of these populations. The sex ratio was deviated towards males in most species, probably because males spend more time on the surface, more susceptible to the sampling. Fiddler crabs are opportunistic species and they can maintain a stable populations even in impacted mangroves such as Mamucabas River. However, a healthy mangrove as Ariquindá River promotes higher species diversity and larger CW fiddler crabs, but not more abundant populations.
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