Meeting Abstract

P1.44  Monday, Jan. 4  Reproductive Varations in an Exploited Decapod Crustacean WELLS, S.L.*; MCCONAUGHA, J.R.; Old Dominion University; Old Dominion Unversity swells@odu.edu

Callinectes sapidus is a heavily exploited species in the Chesapeake Bay. In the past decade the spawning stock has been reduced, which has impacted the reproductive output of mature females of the population. Population fecundity has been reduced as females have gotten smaller. This has been compounded by the loss of a previously determined allometric relationship in this population. Despite the reduced fecundity, there is a trade-off between the number of eggs produced and the average size of those eggs. Generally, females produce a greater number of smaller eggs or fewer large eggs. The concentrations of lipids and proteins within the eggs are directly correlated with egg size, with larger eggs having greater quantities of bulk lipid and proteins. Changes were detected in egg energetic content both inter- and intra-annually indicative of significant differences in egg, and potentially, larval quality. Decreases in population fecundity in conjunction with the observed variation in the biochemical content of eggs can have far reaching impacts on the population including larval survivability and recruitment. Our results suggest that there were significant shifts in maternal effort, and potentially reproductive success, both inter- and intra-annually. Fluctuations in energy available to an embryo, as well as the production of fewer embryos have significantly lowered the reproductive output of this population, and led us to the conclusion that reproduction in this population is highly variable. At this time, it is unclear if the variation is natural or is a result of population exploitation.