| one publication added to basket [119314] | Life history and reproductive biology of the invasive amphipod Melita palmata (Amphipoda: Melitidae) in the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon, Argentina
Obenat, S.; Spivak, E.D.; Garrido, L. (2006). Life history and reproductive biology of the invasive amphipod Melita palmata (Amphipoda: Melitidae) in the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon, Argentina. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 86(6): 1381-1387. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S002531540601441X
In: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Cambridge University Press/Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom: Cambridge. ISSN 0025-3154; e-ISSN 1469-7769, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Obenat, S.
- Spivak, E.D.
- Garrido, L.
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| Abstract |
The life history and reproductive biology of the gammaridean amphipod Melita palmata was studied in the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (Argentina). The animals were collected fortnightly or monthly from Ficopomatus enigmaticus reefs from December 2000 to March 2002. The population density reached a maximum of 1556.67±1560 ind/m3 (mean±SD) in March 2001, decreased dramatically after intense rainfalls in winter 2001, and had a minimum value of 141.67±27.54 ind/m3 (mean±SD) in March 2002. Size differed significantly between sexes. The maximum size of males was 11.5 mm and this was 1.4 times longer than the length of females. The average sex ratio (0.44) did not differ significantly from an expected 1:1 value. Ovigerous females were present from December to March, when the temperature was above 18°C. The body size of ovigerous females ranged from 2.9 to 6.81 mm. There was a positive correlation between the brood size and body length of ovigerous females, and the maximum number of eggs per female was ten. Recruitment took place during the whole breeding season; juveniles recruited at the beginning of the season matured at the end of the same season, those recruited late would probably reach maturity in the following season. |
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