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Influence of mussel rafts on spatial and seasonal abundance of crabs in the Ría de Arousa, North-West Spain

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Abstract

The crab community in the Ría de Arousa, North-West Spain, was studied for 2 yr (1974–1975; 1975–1976), firstly to detect any differences due to mussel (Mytilus edulis) raft aquaculture; secondly to study temporal changes in spatial distributions in beach, raft and non-raft areas throughout the ría. Portunid crabs dominated the fauna, the dominant species being Macropipus puber and M. depurator in the raft areas, M. depurator in non-raft subtidal areas, and M. arcuatus in beach stations. No substantial seasonal changes were observed in species composition throughout the ría. In general, the highest densities occurred in fall and winter. Raft stations showed the highest values of abundance, up to 0.47 individual per m2, and 8.20 g wet wt m-2. The food resource provided by the rich epifauna associated with the mussel rafts, and changes in the sediment due to shell deposits could account for the high density values in raft areas. Raft areas (polygons) cover about 10% of the surface of the Ría de Arousa and, thus, the raft aquaculture of mussels significantly increases crab production.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Costero de Coruña, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Apartado de Correos 130, Coruña, Spain

    P. Romero, E. González-Gurriarán & E. Penas

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  1. P. Romero
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  2. E. González-Gurriarán
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  3. E. Penas
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Communicated by J. M. Pérès, Marseille

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Romero, P., González-Gurriarán, E. & Penas, E. Influence of mussel rafts on spatial and seasonal abundance of crabs in the Ría de Arousa, North-West Spain. Marine Biology 72, 201–210 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396921

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