1. Relative growth and the onset maturity size analysis of Austruca iranica (Ocypodidae) along the two coastal regions of Sandspit, Karachi, Pakistan.
- Author
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SAHER, Noor Us, QURESHI, Naureen Aziz, and ODHANO, Sahir
- Subjects
MANGROVE ecology ,FIDDLER crabs ,SEX ratio ,GROWTH ,MANGROVE forests - Abstract
Morphometric analysis of Austruca iranica population from the two different sites of Sandspit (Karachi, Pakistan) mangrove area was examined. Total seven growth related traits: carapace length (CL), carapace width (CW), enlarged chela length (En.Ch.L), enlarged chela width (En.Ch.W), abdominal length (Ab.L), abdominal width (Ab.W) and pleopod length (Pl.L= in male) examined for the relative growth analysis. Carapace width (CW) used as independentt variable to observe relationship between all the stated growth related traits. A total of 1,244 crabs were collected from both sites; among them 566 males and 628 females. Descript analysis showed (CW) ranged from (male = 3.5 mm to 18 mm) and (female = 2.5 mm to 16 mm) from station 1 and (male = 4.00 mm to 18.5 mm) and (female = 3.5 mm to 18 mm) from station 2. The overall sex ratio (p < 0.05) skewed in favor of females (0.91: 1.0) during South West Monsoon (SWM) season. Relationship between carapace length and carapace width showed positive allometric relation (R²=92.1%) in males. The females showed positive allometric relationship from carapace length and abdominal width (R²= 89.6 %). Overall significant difference observed in both males and females through size at sexual maturity from both sites. The logistic equation indicated that individuals reach at sexual maturity when they attain (male: CW
50 =6.65mm; female: CW50 =6.20mm) from station 1 and (male: CW50 =8.20mm; female: CW50 =6.30mm) from station 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2019