Structure and population dynamics of the secondary burrower crayfish Procambarus acanthophorus from a tropical Mexican wetland

Abstract

Catch size, sex ratio, structure and dynamics, as well as mortality, of a population of the secondary burrower crayfish Procambarus acanthophorus Villalobos, 1948, from tropical wetland La Mixtequilla, Veracruz, Mexico, were examined. Monthly samples were taken from artisanal commercial captures. A total of 2141 individuals were caught. Although the total female:male ratio was 0.86, variation in sex ratios have also been found in monthly catches. Monthly polymodal frequency distributions of cephalothorax length (CL) were analyzed by the Bhattacharya method. Population catches consisted of six CL classes. The CL-class dynamic may show adaptations to the flood period. Growth parameters were estimated using the von Bertalanffy model. For females, K = 0.39 year−1, CL∞ = 57.30 mm, [Formula: see text] = 3.11, and tmax = 6.73 years were found; it is appropriate that for males, K = 0.40 year−1, CL∞ = 59.00 mm, [Formula: see text] = 3.14, and tmax = 6.59 years were found. We also examined whether water temperature influences the catches or sex ratio.