Sex and Size Composition of Uca tangeri and Perisesarma huzardii as Environmental Parameters for Mangrove Ecosystem, Cameroon

Longonje N. Simon

Abstract


Baseline ecological studies of mangroves are important for monitoring, management and conservation of mangrove ecosystems. This study determined the sex and size composition of two abundant crab species in the Cameroon Estuary mangrove. The samples were collected from four zones located from landward fringes to seaward edge of estuary mangrove for six months (April-September, 2015). Standard excavation and crab catching methods were used for data collection. A total of 726 crabs were collected, 434 females (60.3%) and 292 males (39.7%). Perisesarma huzardii (Sesarmidae) was the dominant species with 73.6%, whilst Uca tangeri (Ocypodidae) constituted 26.4% .The carapace width (CW) range for Uca tangeri was 0.26 to 5.6 cm and for Perisesarma huzardii 0.0.1 to 5.5 cm. The total weight of the Uca tangeri ranged between 0.5 g and 64.1g while Perisesarma huzardii ranged between 0.45g and 38.8g. Both species showed a similar growth pattern, with positive allometric growth. However, allometric coefficient (b) of Perisesarma huzardii was higher for both sexes. This could indicate different strategies for growth and reproduction between the two species. An increase in the allometric growth coefficient of the secondary sexual appendages could anticipate the relative size at the onset of sexual maturity. Both species could be better described by a bimodal rather than a unimodal distribution. This study indicates almost similar biological features for both species and that both crabs are important spotlight for mangrove habitat.

Keywords


Crabs; Size Composition; Length-Weight Relationship; Mangrove Ecosystem; Ecological Values

References


Anger, K. and Moreira, G.S. 1998. Morphometric and reproductive traitsof tropical caridean shrimps. Journal of Crustacean Biology 18: 823–838.

Burggren, W.W. and McMahon, B.R. 1988. Biology of the Land Crabs. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 297 pages.

Cannicci, S.; Ruwa, R.K.; Giuggioli, M. and Vannini, M. 1998. Predatory activity and spatial strategies of Epixanthus dentatus (Decapoda: Oziidae), an ambush predator among the mangroves. Journal of Crustacean Biology 18(1): 57-63.

Cannicci, S.; S. Fratini and Vannini, M. 1999. Use of time, space and food resources in the mangrove climbing crab Selatium elongatum (Grapsidae: Sesarminae). Marine Biology 135: 335-339.

Crane, J. 1975. Fiddler Crabs of the World (Ocypodidae: Genus Uca). Princeton University Press. Princeton, NJ. 424 pages.

De Wachter, B. and McMahon, B.R. 1996. Hemolymph flow distri-bution, cardiac performance and ventilation during moderate walking activity in Cancer magister. (Dana) (Decapoda, Crustacea). Journal of Experimental Biology 199: 627-633.

Emmerson, W.D. 1994. Seasonal breeding cycles and sex ratios of eight species of crabs from Mgazana, a mangrove estuary Transkei, South Africa. Journal of Crustacean Biology 14: 158-163.

Ewa-Oboho, I. O. 1993. Substratum preference of the estuarine crabs, Uca tangeri Eydoux (Ocypopidae) and Ocypode cursor Linne ( Ocypopidae). Hydrobiologia 271: 119 -127.

FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation). 1990. Field Guide to the Commercial Marine Resources of the Gulf of Guinea. FAO, Rome. 268 pages.

Farrelly, C.A. and Greenaway, P. 1994. Gas exchange through the lungs and gills in air-breathing crabs. Journal of Experimental Biology 187: 113–130.

Frith, D.W. and Brunenmeister, S. 1980. Ecological and population studies of fiddler crabs (Ocypodidae, genus Uca) on a mangrove shore at Phuket Island, Western Peninsular Thailand. Crustaceana 39: 157-183.

Frith, D.W.; Tantanasiriwong, R. and Bhatia. O. 1976. Zonation of macrofauna on a mangrove shore, Phuket Island. Phuket. Marine Biological Center Research Bulletin 10: 1-37.

Gillikin, D.P.; De Grave, S. and Tack. J.F. 2001. The occurrence of the semi-terrestrial shrimp Merguia oligodon (De Man, 1888) in Neosarmatium smithi H. Milne Edwards, 1853 burrows in Kenyan mangroves. Crustaceana 74: 505-508.

Greenaway, P. 1988. Ion and water balance. Pages 211-248, In: Burggren, W.W. and McMahon, B.R. (Editors) Biology of the Land Crabs. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Hirose, Gustavo Luis; Fransozo, V.; Tropea, C.; López-Greco, L.S. and Negreiros-Fransozo, M.L. 2013. Comparison of body size, relative growth and size at onset sexual maturity of Uca uruguayensis (Crustacea: Decapoda: Ocypodidae) from different latitudes in the south-western Atlantic. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 93(3): 781–788.

Hartnoll, R.G.; Cannicci, S.; Emmerson, W.D.; Fratini, S.; Macia, A.; Mgaya, Y.; Porri, F.; Ruwa, R.K.; Shunnula, J.P.; Skov. M.W. and Vannini. M. 2002. Geographic trends in mangrove crab abundance in East Africa. Wetlands Ecology and Management 10: 203–213.

Hartnoll, R.G. 1988. Evolution, systematic, and geographical distribution. Pages 6-54, In: Burggren, W.W. and McMahon, B.R. (Editors) Biology of the Land Crabs Cambridge University Press. Cambridge.

Henmi, Y. 2000. Comparisons of life history traits among populations of the ocypopid crab Macrophthalmus japonicus in habitats with contrasting food availability. Crustacean Research 29: 109-120.

Joana M.; Jordan, O. and Oliveira. R.F. 2003. Comparison of non-invasive methods for quantifying population density of the Fiddler crab Uca tangeri. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 83: 981-982.

Jones, D.A. 1984. Crabs of mangle. Pages 89-109, In: Por , F.D and Dor, I. (Editors), Hydrolobiology of the Mangle. W. Junk, Dordrecht, the Netherlands.

Latruffe, C.; Macgregor.P. K. and Oliveira. R.F. 1999. Visual signalling and sexual selection in male fiddler crabs Uca tangeri. Marine Ecology 189: 233-240.

Lee, S.Y. 1997. Potential trophic importance of the faecal material of the mangrove crab Sesarma messa. Marine Ecology Progress Series 159: 275-284.

Lee, S.Y. 1998. Ecological role of grapsid crabs in mangrove ecosystems: a review. Marine and Freshwater Research 49: 335-343.

Litulo, C., 2005. Population structure and reproduction biology of the fiddler crab Uca inversa (Hoffman, 1874) (Brachyura: Ocypodidae). Acta Oecologica 27 (3): 135-141.

Longonje , S.L . 2008. Cameroon Mangrove Ecosystem. Ecological and Human Dimension. PhD Thesis. University of York, York. 83 pages.

Macintosh, D.J. 1984. Ecology and productivity of Malaysian mangrove crab populations (Decapoda: Branchyura). Pages 354-377, In: Soepadmo, E.; Rao, A.N. and Macintosh, D.J. (Editors) Proceedings of the Asian Symposium on Mangrove Environment: Research and Management. Universiti Malaya, and UNESCO, Kuala Lumpur.

Macintosh, D.J. 1988. The ecology and physiology of decapods of mangrove swamps. Symposium of the Zoological Society of London 59: 315-341.

Macnae, W. 1968. A general account of the fauna and flora of mangrove swamps and forests in the Indo-West-Pacific region. Advances in Marine Biology 6:73-270.

Malley, D.F. 1977. Adaptations of decapods crustaceans to life in mangrove swamps. Marine Research in Indonesia 18: 63-72.

Mantelatto, F.L.M.;. Faria, F.C.R. and Garcia, R. B. 2003. Biological aspects of Mithraculus forceps (Bracyrura: Mithracidae), from Anchieta Island Brazil. Journal of the Marine Biology Association of the United Kingdom 83: 789 -791.

Micheli, F., Gherardi, F. and Vannini, M. 1991. Feeding and burrowing ecology of two East African mangrove crabs. Marine Biology 111: 247–254.

Miller, D.C. 1961. The feeding mechanism of fiddler crabs, with ecological considerations of feeding adaptations. Zoologica (N.Y.) 46: 89-100.

Pinder, A.W. and Smits, A.W. 1993. The burrow microhabitat of the land crab Cardisoma guanhumi: respiratory/ ionic conditions and physiological responses of crabs to hypercapnia. Physiological Zoology 66: 216-236.

Robertson, A.I. 1991. Plant-animal interactions and the structure and function of mangrove forest ecosystems. Australian Journal of Ecology 16: 433-443.

Robertson, A.I. and Blaber, S.J.M. 1992. Plankton, epibenthos and fish communities. Pages 173-224, In: Robertson, A.I. and Alongi, D.M (Editors) Tropical Mangrove Ecosystems. American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC.

Rosenberg, M.S. 1997. Evolution of shape differences between the major and minor chelipeds of Uca pugnax (Decapoda: Ocypodidae). Journal of Crustacean Biology 17: 52-59.

Skov, M.W. and Hartnoll, R.G. 2001. Comparative suitability of binocular observation, burrow counting and excavation for the quantification of the mangrove fiddler crab Uca annulipes (H. Milne Edwards). Hydrobiologia 449: 201–212.

Smith, T.J.; Boto, K.G.; Frusher, S.D. and Giddens, R.L. 1991. Keystone species and mangrove forest dynamics: the influence of burrowing by crabs on soil nutrient status and forest productivity. Estuarine and Coastal Shelf Science 33: 419-432.

Stieglitz, T., Ridd, P. and Müller, P. 2000. Passive irrigation and functional morphology of crustacean burrows in a tropical mangrove swamp. Hydrobiologia 421: 69-76.

Vannini, M.; Cannicci, S. and Ruwa, R.K. 1995. Effect of light intensity on vertical migration of the tree crab, Sesarma leptosoma Hilgendorf (Decapoda, Grapsidae). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 185:181-189.

Vannini, M. and Ruwa, R.K. 1994. Vertical migrations in the tree crab Sesarma leptosoma (Decapoda, Grapsidae). Marine Biology 118:271-278.

Vannini, M. and Cannicci, S. 1995. Homing behaviour and possible cognitive maps in crustacean decapods. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 193: 67-91.

Ngo-Massou, V.; Guillaume, L.; Kottè-Mapoko, E. and Ndongo, D. 2014. Biology and Distribution of Mangrove Crabs in the Wouri River Estuary, Douala, Cameroon. Journal of Water Resource and Protection 6: 236-248.

Vogt, G . 2012. Ageing and longevity in the Decapoda (Crustacea): A review. Zoologischer Anzeiger - A Journal of Comparative Zoology 251: 1-25.


Full Text: PDF

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

COPYRIGHT of this Journal vests fully with the National Instional Institute of Ecology. Any commercial use of the content on this site in any form is legally prohibited.