ASPECTOS REPRODUCTIVOS DE AUSTROPANDALUS GRAYI (CUNNINGHAN, 1871) (DECAPODA: CARIDEA) EN LOS CANALES DE LA REGIÓN DE AYSÉN* REPRODUCTIVE ASPECTS OF AUSTROPANDALUS GRAYI (CUNNINGHAN, 1871) (DECAPODA: CARIDEA) IN THE CHANNELS OF THE AYSÉN REGION

Fecundity, egg size, embryo losses and reproductive output (RO) was studied in 84 Austopandalus grayi females collected in the channels of the Aysen Region (44o S to 46o S) during the cruises CIMAR 7 Fiordos and CIMAR 8 Fiordos carried out in July 2001 and July 2002. Most of the females carried early stage embryos (68%) and just 6% embryos in final stages. Mean fecundity was higher in 2002, ranging from 185 to 3,200 eggs, than in 2001, when ranged from 48 to 1,329 eggs. The size of the eggs had also higher mean volume in 2002 (0.062 mm3) that in 2001 (0.037 mm3). The specimens collected in 2001 came from estuarine areas with lower temperatures and high water dilution that could explain the high interannual differences found. Embryo losses from stage I to stage II was estimated in 25%, and showed a tendency to be higher in smaller size females, although due to the high data variability the differences were not statistically significant. RO was 0.22 in 2001 and 0.24 in 2002 and was not related to female size. Egg water content did not vary significantly among the three stages assessed. Considering a previous study in a population from the Strait Magellan (53o S) the obtained information suggests that A. grayi has an increase in energy investment per egg and a decrease of RO toward higher latitudes.