Comparison of the population structure of the crab uca sindensis from two inertidal flat habitats North West Arabian Gulf

Abstract EN

The structure of two population of Uca sindensis crab in two habitats at the north west Arabian Gulf were compared.

The size of individuals; distribution sex ratio and recruitment were evaluated.

The physical properties of sediments (texture and organic matter contents) were also examined.

The population structure of the crabs was investigated during one year in two habitats.

Crabs were caughted manually from 15–min.

during low tide.

The carapace width of each crab was measured with caliper and the sex and ovigerous state were recorded.

The median size of crabs differed in each sample population.

It was smaller at Shatt Al- Arab estuary where as larger at Khor Abdallah.

The intertidal zone of Shatt Al Arab estuary and Khor Abdallah showed high productivity.

Marked differences were found regarding individual size, either their onset of sexual maturity or their asymptotic size, suggesting that food availability may be favoring growth in the studied population