Production of the Crab Elamenopsis kempiHymenosomatidae in the Garmat-Ali Region, Basrah, Iraq

Abstract. The production of the hymenosomatid crab Elamenopsis kempi was calculated for a period of 18 months from a subtidal area of the Garmat-Ali river, southern Iraq. The highest average individual somatic energy was attained in spring. Maximum population biomass and production were attained by the summer cohort and the minimum values were exhibited by the overwintering cohort. The fluctuations of the average population biomass were followed throughout the sampling period. Average total annual population production was 13.2 g DW · m^-2· a^-1 and the P/B ratio was 5.9. These values were compared with those of the most common crustaceans in the region.