Reproductive Biology of the Blue Swimming Crab, Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Coastal Waters of Trang Province, Southern Thailand

Main Article Content

Apirak Songrak
Winai Bodhisuwan
Niracha Yoocharem
Wutttichai Udomwong
Thanitha Darbanandana

Abstract

The blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) is an important commercial species in Trang province, Southern Thailand. This study investigated the reproductive biology that supports the largest regional small-scale fishery of this species. A total of 217 male and 214 female crabs were randomly sampled from the catches of small-scale fishers, on a monthly basis from October 2010 to September 2011. All stages of gonad (testes and ovaries) development of crabs were observed  throughout the year. The monthly mean values ofGonadosomatic Index (GSI) of male and female crabs ranged between 1.34 to 3.25, and 2.60 to 9.24%, respectively.Spawning season occurred twice a year, from December to February, and July to September. The sizes at 50% maturity (ICW50%) of male and female crabs were 8.02 and 8.09 em, respectively. The fecundity of ovigerous crabs ranged widely from 98,627 to 1,319,480 eggs, with the average of 472,357 eggs. The fecundity of good breeder females ranged from 133,669 to 606,026 eggs.

Article Details

How to Cite
Songrak, A., Bodhisuwan, W., Yoocharem, N., Udomwong, W., & Darbanandana, T. (2014). Reproductive Biology of the Blue Swimming Crab, Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Coastal Waters of Trang Province, Southern Thailand. Journal of Fisheries and Environment, 38(2), 27–40. Retrieved from https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/JFE/article/view/80590
Section
Articles

References

1. Arkronrat, W., V. Oniam, N. Hengcharoen and K. Pradubtham. 2013. Crab bank implementation: Case study of the blue swimming crab bank in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Thailand. Kasetsart University Fisheries Research Bulletin, 37 (1): 30-39.

2. Arshad, A., Efrizal, M.S. Kamarudin and C.R. Saad. 2006. Study on fecundity, embryology and Larval development of blue swimming crab Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758) under laboratory conditions. Research Journal of Fisheries and Hydrobiology, 1(1): 35-44.

3. Batoy, C.B., J.P. Sarmago and B.C. Pilapil. 1987. Breeding season, sexual maturity and fecundity of the blue crab, Portunus pelagicus (L.) in selected coastal waters in Leyte and vicinity, Philippines. Annals of Tropical Research, 9: 157-177.

4. Bezerra, LE.A. and H.M. Cascon. 2007. Population and reproductive biology of the fiddler crab Uca thayeri Rathbun, 1900 (Crustacea: Ocypodidae) in a tropical mangrove from Northeast Brazil. Acta Oecologica, 31: 251-258.

5. Bryars, S.R. 1997. Larval dispersal of the blue swimmer crab Portunus pelagicus Linnaeus (Crustacea: Decapoda: Portunidae) in South Australia. Flinders University, Australia. Unpublished PhD thesis, 256 pp.

6. Clarke, K. and S. Ryan. 2004. Ecological assessment of the Queensland blue swimmer crab pot fishery. Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. 100 pp.

7. De Lestang, S., N.G. Hall and I.C. Potter. 2003. Reproductive biology of the blue swimmer crab (Portunus pelagicus, Decapoda: Portunidae) in five bodies of water on the west coast of Australia. Fisheries Bulletin, 101:745-757.

8. Edgar, G.J. 1990. Predator-prey interactions in sea grass beds. II. Distribution and diet of the blue swimming crab P. pelagicus Linnaeus at Cliff Head, Western Australia. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 139:23-32.

9. Gaughan, D.J. and I.C. Potter. 1994. Relative abundance and seasonal changes in the macrozoo plankton of the lower Swan Estuary in south-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museus, 16(4): 461-474.

10. Hosseini, M., A. Vazirizade, Y. Parsa and A. Mansori. 2012. Sex ratio, size distribution and seasonal Abundance of blue swimmingcrab, Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Persian Gulf coasts, Iran. World Applied Sciences Journal, 17(7): 919-925.

11. Johnson, D.D., C.A. Gray and W.G. Macbeth. 2010. Reproductive biology of Portunus pelagicus in a south-east Australian estuary. Journ al of Crustacean Biology, 30(2): 200-205.

12. Kamrani, E., A.N. Sabili and M. Yahyavi. 2010. Stock assessment and reproductive biology of the blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus in Bandar Abbas coastal waters, Northern Persian Gulf. Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science), 1(2): 11-22.

13. King, M.G. 2007. Fisheries biology, assessment and management. 2nd ed. Blackwell, UK, 382 pp.

14. Kumar, M.S., Y. Xiao and H. Williams. 1999. Blue crab-Assessment Update and Review of Biological Indicators and Reference Points, South Australian. Fisheries Assessment Series, 99/02. SARDI, 29 pp.

15. Kumar, M.S., G. Ferguson, Y. Xiao, G. Hooper and S. Venema. 2000. Studies on reproductive biology and distribution of blue swimmer crab (Portunus pelagicus ) in South Australian Waters. Research Report Series, 47: 1324-2083.

16. Kumar, M.S., Y. Xiao, S. Venema and G. Hooper. 2003. Reproductive cycle of the blue swimmer crab, Portunus pelagicus, off southern Australia. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 83: 983-994.

17. Lee, H.H., and C.C. Hsu. 2003. Population biology of the swimming crab Portunus sanguinolentus in the waters off northern Taiwan. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 23(3): 691-699.

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

19. Omolara, L.A.A. and B. Barakat. 2009. The biology of the smooth swim crab Portunus validus (Herklots) off Lago'S Coast, Nigeria. European Journal of Scientific Research, 30(3):402-408.

20. Oniam, V., U. Buathee, L. chuchit and T. Wechakama. 2010. Growth and sexual maturity of blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus Linnaeus, 1758) reared in earthen ponds. Kasetsart University Fisheries Research Bulletin, 30 (1): 20-26.

21. Penn, J.W. 1977. Trawl caught fish and crustaceans from Cockburn Sound. Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Western Australia Report No. 20, 24 pp.

22. Quinn, NJ. and B.L. Kojis.1987. Reproductive biology of Scylla spp. (Crustacea: Portunidae) from the Labu estuary in Papua New Guinea. Bulletin of Marine Science, 41(2): 234-241.

23. Rasheed, S. and J. Mustaquim. 2010. Size at sexual maturity, breeding season and fecundity of three-spot swimming crab Portunus sanguinolentus (Herbst, 1783) (Decapoda, Portunidae) occurring in the coastal waters of Karachi, Pakistan. Fisheries Research, 103: 56-62.

24. Razek, P.A. 1988. Some biological studies on the Egyptian crab Portunus pilagicus (Linnaeus 1766). Acta Adriatica, 29: 133-144

25. Sawusdee, A. and A. Songrak. 2009. Population dynamics and stock assessment of blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus Linnaeus, 1758) in the coastal area of Trang province, Thailand. Walailak Journal of Science and Technology, 6: 167-188.

26. Smith, H. 1982. Blue crabs in South Australia-their status, potential and biology. SAFIC, 6(5): 6-9.

27. Smith, K. D., N.G. Hall, S. De Lestang and LC. Potter. 2004. Potential bias in estimates of the size of maturity of crabs derived from trap samples. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 61: 906-912.

28. Soundarapandian, P., D. Varadharajan and T. Anand. 2013. Male reproductive system of blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758). Journal of Cytology&Histology, 5(1): 206-214.

29. Songrak, A. and P. Choopunch. 2006. Stock assessment of blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus, Linnaeus) in Sikao bay, Trang province, southern Thailand. Proceedings International Conference on "Coastal Oceanography and Sustainable Marine Aquaculture, Confluence & Synergy", Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia: 151-160.

30. Songrak, A., W. Bodhisuwan and T.Thapanand 2013. Selectivity of traps for blue swimming crab in Trang province. Maejo International Journal of Science and Technology, ?(special Issue): 36-42.

31. Sudtongkong, C. 2006. Reproductive biology of P. pelagicus, Linnaeus in Sikao Bay Southern Thailand. Proceedings International Conference on "Coastal Oceanography and Sustainable Marine Aquaculture, Confluence & Synergy", Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia: 138-150.

32. Sukumaran, K.K. and B. Neelakantan. 1997. Age and growth intwo marine portunid crabs, Portunus Sanguinolentus (Herbst) and Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus) along the southwest coast of India Karnataka coast, Indian Journal of Fisheries, 44(2): 111-131.

33. Svane, I.and G. Hooper. 2004. Blue swimmer crab (Portunus pelagicus ) fishery. Fishery Assessment Report to PIRSA for the Blue Crab Fishery Management Committee. SARDI Aquatic Sciences Publication No: RD03/0274, 74 pp.

34. Thapanand, T. 2006. Population and Reproductive Biology of Shark Catfish and its Fisheries in the Mun River, Thailand. Ph.D. Thesis. Graduate School of Fisheries, Kasetsart University.

35. Williams, M.J. 1988. Natural food and feeding in the commercial sand crab Portunus pelagicus Linnaeus, 1766 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Portunidae) in Moreton Bay, Queensland. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 59: 165-176.

36. Xiao, Y. and M. Kumar. 2004. Sex ratio, and probability of sexual maturity of females at size, of the blue swimmer crab, Portunus pelagicus Linnaeus, off southern Australia. Fisheries Research, 68: 271-282.