Growth and Reproduction Biology of the Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896, in the Beymelek Lagoon (Southwestern Coast of Turkey)

Seasonal growth and reproduction biology of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus were studied in the Beymelek lagoon, southwestern coast of Turkey between July 2009 and September 2010. The seasonal von Bertalanffy growth parameters were obtained by Hoenig method using the LFDA (Length Frequency Distribution Analysis) for each sex. The LFDA analyses showed that male crabs had higher L-infinity and lower K and higher Phi' values (L-infinity=230.1 mm, K=0.860 year(-1)) than females (L-infinity =181.9 mm, K=1.064 year(-1)). Seasonal variation of growth for females (C=0.93) were found stronger than males (C=0.29). The slowest growth period started in October (WP=0.79) for females and in January (WP=0.06) for males. Ovigerous females were appeared in the population in February and peaked in August and September. The spawning period of C. sapidus was between July and September. The length of maturity of 50% was estimated as 118.5 mm length for females.