Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems (Jul 2005)

COMPARISON BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP MATING OF AUSTROPOTAMOBIUS PALLIPESUNDER CONTROLLED CONDITIONS

  • SÁEZ-ROYUELA M.,
  • CARRAL J. M.,
  • CELADA J. D.,
  • MELENDRE P. M.,
  • AGUILERA A.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/kmae:2005026
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 0, no. 376-377
pp. 699 – 704

Abstract

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Individual mating was compared with mating in groups under laboratory conditions using 64 females and 32 males of white–clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes). Mating in groups took place at a density of 24 animals/m2 placed in two 1m2 fibreglass tanks (16 females and 8 males/tank). Individual pairing was made in net plastic cubic boxes of 0.25 × 0.25 m bottom surface placed in 1m2 fibreglass tanks (8 boxes/tank). Percentages of mating and spawning were similar in both treatments (100 and 93.7% in groups and 96.9 and 93.7% in individual pairing). However, pleopodal egg number and survival rate 78 days after spawning (phase VIII-IX of embryonic development) were higher in females mated in groups (67 and 57.4%) than those individually inseminated (26 and 25.9%). Possible causes of lower egg survival rate of individually mated females are discussed.

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