Observations on the biology of Pandalina brevirostris [Decapoda; Crustacea]

Abstract

The life-cycle of a population of Pandalina brevirostris living off the Northumberland coast is described. Most specimens were taken over sandy gravel or sandy mud with a covering of zoophytes in depths ranging from 20 to 30 fm. A very few specimens were taken over soft mud in 50 fm.Eggs are laid during the period from January to the beginning of September. Females may lay two or possibly three broods in each breeding season. There is a period of 12–14 weeks between the laying of the eggs and the hatching of the larvae. The ova of those females that have a brood of eggs within the first half of the breeding season mature as the eggs develop, and are ready for laying following the release of the larvae. The adult P. brevirostris reaches maturity 8–12 months after hatching as a larva and lives on to breed again in the following season. They die at the end of their second breeding season. Thus, the probable life-span of the female is 24–30 months following its release as a larva, while that of the males is about 21–27 months.