Functional morphology of the seminal receptacle in the crab Metacarcinus edwardsii. Issue 4 (8th November 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pardo, Luis Miguel; Riveros, Marcela; Fuentes, Juan Pablo; López‐Greco, Laura
• Is Part Of: Invertebrate biology. Volume 132:Issue 4(2013:Dec.)
• Page Start: 386
• Page End: 393
• Publication Date: 2013-11-08
• Subjects: Invertebrates -- Periodicals; 592.05
• DOI: 10.1111/ivb.12038
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8306

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ivb12038-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>One of the most remarkable features of the reproductive systems of eubrachyuran crabs is the presence of specialized organs for sperm storage, the seminal receptacles. Descriptions of seminal receptacle morphology, sperm storage time, sperm retention across molts, and the capacity to store multiple ejaculates from different males can help in understanding crab mating strategies as well as in preventing negative effects of male‐biased fisheries of heavily harvested species. <italic>Metacarcinus edwardsii</italic> is the most harvested crab in Chile, but its reproductive biology is largely unstudied. In this study, the morphology of the seminal receptacles of <italic>M. edwardsii</italic> is characterized from the macroscopic to the microscopic level, during key points in the reproductive cycle. The receptacles of experimentally mated and wild‐caught females were included in this analysis. <italic>Metacarcinus edwardsii</italic> has ventral‐type seminal receptacles that are able to retain sperm after molting, and even after extrusion of the eggs. Stratification of multiple ejaculates is clearly observed. In general, the pattern of sperm storage indicates that populations of this species, like those of other cancrid crabs, could have high resilience to the negative effects of the selective harvest of males, principally because females have a great sperm storage capacity.</p> </abstract>