Pleopodal fecundity of narrow-clawed crayfish (Pontastacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz, 1823)

Abstract

ABSTRACT The pleopodal fecundity of Pontastacus leptodactylus from Hirfanlı Dam (Turkey) was investigated. Reproductive period, length at first maturity, as well as the number, weight and diameter of pleopodal eggs were determined. The study was conducted monthly at six different stations from June 2017 to May 2018. Berried females were observed between December and May. L50 length at first maturity of the female crayfish population in the lake was estimated as 9.04 cm and this value is below the applied 10 cm Minimum Landing Size (MLS). The mean egg number of the population was 240.18, the mean egg weight was 0.0122 g and the mean egg diameter was 2.702 mm. While an increase in female total length had a positive effect on mean total egg number, sampling period (progressive incubation period from December to May) caused negative effects. The mean total egg number for 1 mm total length was found to be 2.18. When the mean pleopodal egg number of the crayfish population in Hirfanlı Dam Lake was compared with populations of P. leptodactylus in other localities it was concluded that the stock is quite productive.