Biologia reprodutiva de fêmeas de duas espécies de caranguejo ermitão (Decapoda: Anomura: Diogenidae)

Abstract

The Clibanarius symmetricus and Clibanarius sclopetarius are two hermit crab species, distributed through de maritime coastal zone of Brazil. They present sexual dimorphism, according to the gonopore position. Fecundity is the number of eggs that a female deposit, in only one spawn. Fecundity analysis are important because they help to understand the reproductive potential of a species. Studies with the histological description of those species can be utilized as models for studies off female reproductive system of crustaceans, as general. The use of histochemical tests helps in the description of the maturation stages of the oocytes from those species. With the goal to analyze the gonadal development of those hermit crabs, with histochemical coloration, the individuals where collected in four estuaries (Jaguaribe, Pacoti, Acaraú e Timonha&Ubatuba), and taken to laboratory, where they were sexed, biometric data collected (for fecundity analysis), dissected and the gonads were removed. After dissection, the organs passed through histologic routine (dehydration, diaphanization, impregnation and microtomy), colored whith tricomic gomori (detection of tissues), Hematoxilyn-eosin (detection of acidous and basophilous substances), Alcian/ PAS blue (detection of mucopolysaccharides) and Bromofenol (identification of proteins). After those stages, the sections were observed on an optical microscope. The ovary, the organ that produces the sexual cells, showed, through histochemical analysis, four maturation stages for the oocytes that varies through the incorporation of yolk. With the proportion of oocytes stages and presence of chemical substances, it was possible to determine four stages for the gonad maturation: imature, in maturation, mature and resting. The fecundity showed positive correlation with the biometric data, although below average. The maturation stages corroborates with others studies realized on decapod crustacenas, and the description of the female reproductive system was successfull.