title: [Fertility and Embryonic Mortality Level of the Japanese Mitten Crab Eriocheir japonica (Crustacea: Decapoda: Varunidae) in Primorye].
abstract: Reproductive biology of the Japanese mitten crab Eriocheir japonica (de Haan, 1835) was studied in the northern part of its habitat. It was revealed that E. japonica from the water bodies of Primorye, in contrast to crabs in the central part of the habitat on the Japanese Islands, lays fewer eggs in the first clutch, does not have direct dependence between the size-weight characteristics of females and the number of eggs in the third clutch, and shows higher level of embryonic mortality. The loss of eggs during the embryonic period in each of three sequentially laid clutches was 16, 34, and 52%, respectively (28% in total during the period of reproduction). Fecundity was approximately 43%. It was registered that the specifics of reproductive biology of E. japonica (monocyclicity, prolonged period of reproduction, portion spawning, indirect embryonic development, high fertility, relatively small and yolk enriched eggs, pelagic planktotrophic larva, high level of energy costs on reproduction, egg bearing on the pleopods, high level of embryonic mortality), an intermediate strategist, is in a good agreement with its life strategy, thereby enabling this species to realize its reproductive potential in the northern part of the habitat.
authors: M V
authors: MV
authors: Kalinina
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development; D052284:Clutch Size / Q000502:physiology; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology; D007564:Japan; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012426:Russia