Research Article

Seasonal variations in the biochemical composition and reproductive cycle of the ghost crab Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius, 1787) in Southern Brazil

  1. Graziani de Freitas Antunes1,2,
  2. Ana Paula Nunes do Amaral1,
  3. Fabiana Pinto Ribarcki1,
  4. Elenir de Fátima Wiilland1,
  5. Denise Maria Zancan2,
  6. Anapaula Sommer Vinagre1,*

Article first published online: 1 FEB 2010

DOI: 10.1002/jez.593

Issue

Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology

Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology

Volume 313A, Issue 5, pages 280–291, 1 June 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Antunes, G. d. F., do Amaral, A. P. N., Ribarcki, F. P., Wiilland, E. d. F., Zancan, D. M. and Vinagre, A. S. (2010), Seasonal variations in the biochemical composition and reproductive cycle of the ghost crab Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius, 1787) in Southern Brazil. J. Exp. Zool., 313A: 280–291. doi: 10.1002/jez.593

Author Information

  1. 1

    Laboratório de Histofisiologia Animal, Curso de Biologia, Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

  2. 2

    Laboratório de Neurobiologia Comparada, Departamento de Fisiologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em C.Biológicas-Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

*Laboratório de Metabolismo e Endocrinologia Comparada, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500, CEP 90050-170, Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 11 MAY 2010
  2. Article first published online: 1 FEB 2010
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 28 DEC 2009
  4. Manuscript Revised: 9 NOV 2009
  5. Manuscript Received: 28 JAN 2009

Funded by

  • Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA)

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Abstract

The ghost crab, Ocypode quadrata, is found on sandy beaches from the United States to Southern Brazil. Because there is still little information about the metabolism and reproduction of O. quadrata on the southern coast of Brazil, the objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the effect of seasonal variations on the carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism of O. quadrata at Rondinha Beach, a beach with high anthropogenic activity, and to compare it with data from Siriú Beach, which has less human activity; and (ii) describe the effect of seasonal variations on the histological characteristics of male and female gonads, in order to assess the reproductive capacity of the crabs. The gonads of male crabs showed no significant variations in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and glycogen levels; however, histological analysis of the testes revealed that they are mature in the summer. In females, the GSI and glycogen values are higher in summer, concomitantly with the presence of mature oocytes. These results suggest that the reproductive peak of O. quadrata occurs in summer. The seasonal analysis of the biochemical parameters, as well as comparison with Siriú Beach, demonstrated that the ghost crabs of Rondinha Beach have a different pattern of metabolism than those of Siriú. This difference may be a consequence of differences in the environmental conditions as well as in the anthropogenic pressures, such as vehicle traffic and the increase in human population at the beach in summer. J. Exp. Zool. 313A:280–291, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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