BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Callianassa subterranea

Researched by

Lizzie Tyler

Data supplied by

University of Sheffield

Refereed by

This information is not refereed.

Reproduction/Life History

Reproductive type

Gonochoristic

Developmental mechanism

Planktotrophic

Reproductive Season

Spring and summer

Reproductive Location

As adult

Reproductive frequency

Biannual episodic

Regeneration potential

Life span

1-2 years

Age at reproductive maturity

1 year

Generation time

Insufficient information

Fecundity

Egg/propagule size

Fertilization type

Insufficient information

Larvae/Juveniles
Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential	>10km	Larval settlement period	Insufficient information
Duration of larval stage	1-2 months

Reproduction Preferences Additional Information

Female Callianassa subterranea brood eggs on their pleopods.
Most sexually mature females collected from the southern North Sea were ovigerous in July and August suggesting a summer breeding season for Callianassa subterranea. The proportion of ovigerous females declined during April and September, and no females with eggs were collected in October (Rowden & Jones, 1994). Approximately one month after the peak occurrence of ovigerous females, post larval abundance is highest, implying that newly-hatched larvae have about four weeks in the plankton before being recruited to the benthic population. However, post larvae were also relatively abundant in April which supports evidence from Witbaard & Duineveld (1989) of a double reproductive cycle. Large or old females (9 mm carapace length, 2 years old) were ovigerous in February and post larvae common in April. Lindley (1987) found no Callianassa subterranea larvae in the North Sea plankton for late winter or early spring which also supports the suggestion of a double reproductive cycle. However, Rowden & Jones (1994) suggest that the absence of larvae between the two peaks may be because Callianassa subterranea adopts an alternative life-history strategy of direct benthic development during this period. Such benthic larval development has been observed for Callianassa kraussi in South Africa
Rowden & Jones (1995) observed the influence of the sex of Callianassa subterranea upon burrow structure. Resin casts of burrows produced by females had consistently fewer surface openings than those of males. The reason for this difference is unknown.

Reproduction References

Rowden & Jones, 1994, Witbaard & Duineveld, 1989, Lindley, 1987, Rowden & Jones, 1995, Julie Bremner, unpub data,