Reproductive Biology of Liocarcinus puber and L holsatus (Decapoda, Brachyura, Portunidae) from the Gower Peninsula, South Wales

Abstract. Routine monthly samples of the commercially important portunid crab Liocarcimtx puber and the sympatric but ecologically separated L. holsatus were collected from the waters and shores around the Gowcr Peninsula, South Wales, between November 1983 and September 1985.
The pubertal moult in L. puber occurred at 38 mm CW (carapace width) (females) and 42 mm CW (males). In L. holsatus this occurred at 17 mm (females) and 18.5 mm CW (males). The median size of ovigcrous females was 49.2 ± 6.7 mm CW in L. puber and 26.5 ± 2.0 mm CW in L. holsatus.
Moulting and copulation occurred between spring and autumn, the moulting period of males being earlier than that of the females. Ovigcrous L. holsatus were recorded throughout the year, with highest proportions between February and April. L. puber were ovigcrous mainly between January and March; none was recorded between September and November. The number of eggs of the wild brood (range: 39,000–280,000 for L. holsatus and 40.000–262.000 for L. puber ) was related to female body size as y = 3.099.51 c^0.1126x, r = 0.90, n = 21 and y = 6,335.98 c^0.051x, r = 0.88, n = 23, respectively, where y = number of eggs and x = carapace width (mm).
Following successful copulation, females of both species were able to spawn more than once during an intcrmoult period.