Moulting and spawning cycles in Macrobrachium nobilii(Henderson and Mathai)

Pandian, T. J. ; Balasundaram, C. (1982) Moulting and spawning cycles in Macrobrachium nobilii(Henderson and Mathai) International Journal of Invertebrate Reproduction, 5 (1). pp. 21-30. ISSN 0165-1269

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Official URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0165126...

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01651269.1982.10553451

Abstract

Macrobrachium nobilii is a diecdysic decapod and moults every 18–22 days. A moult is usually followed by spawning and the female incubates the eggs for a fortnight; hatching lasts for 3 days. Following a moult, a few (39%) females skip spawning until the next moult. The ovaries of such individuals remain quiescent for up to 3 subsequent moults. Removal of eggs from females 3 days after berrying increases the percentage of females spawning, following the next moult, to 81 from 61%. Differences in the intermoult period, body growth/moult and number of eggs/brood between normal females and females from whom eggs were removed, was not statistically significant. Relieving the females from the task of incubation increases the egg production by 47% by increasing the spawning frequency. The realised total growth and reproductive output of a breeding female is over 47% of its own body. Treating this as 100 it was found that 61, 24 and 15% of the converted food energy is channeled for egg production, exuvium and body growth, respectively. There is a definite physiological tilt from somatic growth to reproduction in older individuals.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to Taylor & Francis Group.
Keywords:Egg Mass Removal; Somatic Growth; Reproductive Cycle; Egg Production; Energy Allocation; Prawn; Macrobrachium Nobilii
ID Code:97220
Deposited On:30 Jan 2013 10:04
Last Modified:30 Jan 2013 10:04

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