FECUNDITY AND ENERGETICS OF EMBRYONIC METABOLISM OF<i>CARIDINA WEBERI</i>(DE MAN) (DECAPODA: ATYIDAE)

Abstract

Fecundity and energetics of embryonic metabolism of Caridina weberi are described. The egg number/brood bears a linear relationship with the volume (L3) of the female conforming to the equation Y = 544.91 + 31.96 (X—13.35). The live weight of single eggs increased from 52.03 ± 6.83 μg when freshly spawned to 76.98 ± 7.45 μg, prior to hatching. In the corresponding period, there was a decrease in the dry weight from 22.06 ± 2.33 to 20.31 ± 2.11 μg. During development, there were increases in ash (0.56 ± 0.121 to 1.13 ± 0.057 μg), copper (0.0050 ± 0.0015 to 0.0295 ± 0.0018 μg) and carbohydrate (0.28 ± 0.0558 to 0.74 ± 0.1134 μg) contents. From a total of 5.91 μg of carbohydrate-free dry yolk substance expended on metabolic processes, as much as 70.22% was due to the oxidation of protein, and only 29.78% was due to the oxidation of fat. A size dependent correlation between the initial egg size and metabolic properties of the eggs during the embryogenesis of crustaceans is suggested.