Morphological variation in the sexual maturity of three sympatric aeglids in a river in southern Brazil
The objective of this study was to investigate the use of morphometric aspects of three sympatric aeglids (Aegla platensis, Aegla grisella, and Aegla ludwigi) to determine the mean size of males and females at the onset of sexual maturity and verify whether there are differences at sexual maturity b...
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| Published in: | Journal of crustacean biology 2015-01, Vol.35 (1), p.59-67 |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | eng |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | The objective of this study was to investigate the use of morphometric aspects of three sympatric aeglids (Aegla platensis, Aegla grisella, and Aegla ludwigi) to determine the mean size of males and females at the onset of sexual maturity and verify whether there are differences at sexual maturity between the species. The relationships between CL and cheliped dimensions for males and CL and AW for females reflecting the onset of morphological sexual maturity were tested using the software REGRANS. The intersections between the lines of allometric growth for juveniles and adults were tested using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). In males and females, the growth rate was positively allometric. The analysis of juveniles and ovigerous females showed that they breed year round. The three sympatric aeglids reached the onset of sexual maturity at different sizes, which may facilitate the coexistence of all species. |
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| ISSN: | 0278-0372 1937-240X |