THE DECAPOD CRUSTACEANS IN VARANO LAGOON (SOUTH ITALY): COMPOSITION AND DISTRIBUTION

The study analyses the composition, distribution and structure of Crustacean Decapods in Varano lagoon (S. Italy) for ten months. Samplings monthly of Decapod Crustaceans were carried out from May 2012 to march 2012 in three different stations within the Varano lagoon (Capojale and Varano mouths and San Nicola Imbuti) . In each station the main environmental parameters were recorded by mean multiparametric probe (T °C, S psu). Were found a total 254 specimens Crabs belong to five several families: Portunidae (86%), Grapsidae (4%), Menippidae (2%), Panopeidae (3%), Varunidae (5%). Carcinus aestuarii Nardo, 1847 (Portunidae) was the most abundant and widespread among the species found during the study period in all stations considered. A total 218 specimens of C. aestuarii (205 males and 13 females) were caught. The station abounding in fish, in terms of crabs, seems to be called Capoyale, near the mouth of the northwest. Among the species found there is the presence of an alien species of origin North-West Atlantic, the Panopeidae Dyspanopeus sayi (Smith, 1869). This work contributes to the knowledge of Decapod Crustaceans populations in one of the largest lagoons in the Mediterranean. control of these populations also in terms of composition could be a good method of indirect control of the environment.