The contribution of fecundity and embryo quality to reproductive potential of eastern Bering Sea snow crab ( Chionoecetes opilio )

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• Main Authors: Webb, Joel B., Slater, Laura M., Eckert, Ginny L., Kruse, Gordon H.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 2016
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Bering Sea; Canada; Chionoecetes opilio; Snow crab
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2015-0485; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/cjfas-2015-0485; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/cjfas-2015-0485

Development of refined indices of female reproductive potential is needed for estimation of alternative biological reference points for the eastern Bering Sea (EBS) snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) fishery, which is managed with large male-only harvest regulations. Females were collected from 2007 to 2009 to investigate seasonal and interannual variation in fecundity with maternal size, shell condition (a proxy for age after maturity), and recent mating and again in 2010 to examine biochemical measures (carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen) of embryo quality. Mean model-adjusted fecundity was highest for primiparous and young multiparous females and declined with advancing shell condition, presumably from senescence. This pattern was also found for clutch fullness indices evaluated from 20 years of stock assessment survey data. Indicators of low female sperm reserves were associated with decreased (∼10%) fecundity for multiparous females. Seasonal comparison of size–fecundity relationships suggested that embryo loss during brooding was minimal, and embryo quality analyses suggested that strong variation with maternal characteristics was unlikely. Finally, fecundity-at-size of EBS females may be lower than that of conspecifics in Japan and eastern Canada.