Growth and Mortality of Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) in the North-Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

Invasive species may exhibit dynamics different to those exhibited in their native range owing to the lack of native competitors and predators. The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is native to the western Atlantic, but is an invasive species in the Mediterranean. We examined the dynamics of growth and mortality of an invasive population of blue crab in the Yumurtalik Cove, Turkey (North Eastern Mediterranean) between January and December 1997. The seasonal von Bertalanffy growth parameters were quantified by Hoenig method using the LFDA (Length Frequency Distribution Analysis) for each sex. Carapace widths (n=908) ranged from 3.20 to 19 cm. The von Bertalanffy growth constants in length was CW 20.95 cm ∞ = , K = 0.5 year−1 , 0 t = 0.36 - year , Cw 20.66cm ∞ = for males; Cw 20.66cm ∞ = , K = 0.74year−1 , 0 t = 0.24 − year , C = 0 , WP = 0 for females; and CL 20.16cm ∞ = , K = 0.81year−1 , 0 t = 0.22 − year , C = 0 and WP = 0 for total individuals including juveniles as well as sexually maturated ones. Six different empirical relationships to estimate Natural Mortality (M) was 1.30 (range: 0.53- 2.20) for Yumurtalik Cove crabs.