LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIPS OF BLUE, PARALITHODES PLATYPUS, AND GOLDEN, LITHODES AEQUISPINA, KING CRABS PARASITIZED BY THE RHIZOCEPHALAN, BRIAROSACCUS CALWSUS BOSCHMA

Length-weight relationships and condition factors of nonparasitized blue king crabs. Parnlithodes p/ntYPIl8, and golden king crabs, LithodfS .wquispino. in southeastern Alaska were compared with crabs parasi­ tized by the rhizocephalan, Briaroso,'CU8 coll,-.su8. Species. sex, and shell condition were considered in all analyses. Parasitized male blue king crabs and parasitized male golden king crabs weighed significant­ ly less than nonparasitized individuals. Golden king crabs may be more resistant to infection and the ef­ fects of B. col108l/8 parasitism than blue king crabs. They had a lower prevalence of infection. and the percent difference between the body mass of parasitized and nonparasitized crabs was considerably less. In both crab hosts the prevalence of infection was greater in samples where sublegalor smaller size classes of adults were included in analyses. suggesting that crab growth was reduced by the parasite.