PRELIMINARY NOTE ON THE Carcinus aestuarii IN VARANO LAGOON: POPULATION STRUCTURE AND REPRODUCTIVE

This study analyses some aspects of Carcinus aestuarii biology within the project MOLEVAR funded by FEP ( European Funds for Fishing) in order to evaluate the crabs, Carcinus aestuarii, as a new economic resource for Varano Lagoon (S Italy). The population structure and reproductive biology of this species will be studed in three different sites of the lagoon. A total of 148 specimens were obtained from May to August 2012; 139 males and 9 females were observed. Length (CL) and width (CW) of the carapace and total weight (TW), were determined sex and development stage. At the same time, water temperature, salinity, oxygen concentration and pH were measured with a multiparametric probe. The reproductive biology of C. aestuarii will be performed through the histological study of the reproductive cycle of the female and will be calculated the sex ratio.