<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The distribution and occurrence of epibionts on the dorsal carapace, ventral carapace and chela of 325 specimens of <italic>Callinectes amnicola</italic> (De Rocheburne, 1883) (103.4 - 138.7 mm carapace width) from the Qua Iboe (QIRE) and Imo River (IRE) estuaries in southeast Nigeria was determined. The only ectosymbiont observed was cirriped barnacle, Chelonibia patula, mostly of smaller sizes (2.25 mm), infesting only 25-29% of intermoult crabs, more on females and in the Imo River estuary, with an average of four barnacles per crab, presupposing low level of epibiont-host interaction. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in spatial distribution but epibionts were highest in the dry season in low salinity IRE (0.53‰) and in wet season in the medium-salinity QIRE (17.4‰). No public health risk has been reported among crab consumers in the study area. This study highlights epibiont-host interaction in the study area largely unknown for proper management of the fishery.</p></abstract>

The distribution and occurrence of epibionts on the dorsal carapace, ventral carapace and chela of 325 specimens of Callinectes amnicola (De Rocheburne, 1883) (103.4 - 138.7 mm carapace width) from the Qua Iboe (QIRE) and Imo River (IRE) estuaries in southeast Nigeria was determined. The only ectosymbiont observed was cirriped barnacle, Chelonibia patula, mostly of smaller sizes (2.25 mm), infesting only 25-29% of intermoult crabs, more on females and in the Imo River estuary, with an average of four barnacles per crab, presupposing low level of epibiont-host interaction. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in spatial distribution but epibionts were highest in the dry season in low salinity IRE (0.53‰) and in wet season in the medium-salinity QIRE (17.4‰). No public health risk has been reported among crab consumers in the study area. This study highlights epibiont-host interaction in the study area largely unknown for proper management of the fishery.

Distribution and Size of Barnacle <italic>Chelonibia patula</italic> Fouling Blue Crab <italic>Callinectes amnicola</italic> in Southeast Nigeria

Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Environmental Management, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom,

Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, Akwa Ibom State University, Obio, Akpa Campus, Oruk Anam, Akwa Ibom State,

Croatian Journal of Fisheries

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Distribution and Size of Barnacle  Fouling Blue Crab  in Southeast Nigeria

The distribution and occurrence of epibionts on the dorsal carapace, ventral carapace and chela of 325 specimens of Callinectes amnicola (De Rocheburne, 1883)...

Distribution and Size of Barnacle Chelonibia patula Fouling Blue Crab Callinectes amnicola in Southeast Nigeria

Published Online: Oct 17, 2016

Page range: 93 - 102

Received: Oct 19, 2015

Accepted: May 17, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cjf-2016-0017

Keywords
Crustacean Encrusters, Epibiosis, Infestation, Prevalence rate

© 2016 James Philip Udoh et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Distribution and Size of Barnacle Chelonibia patula Fouling Blue Crab Callinectes amnicola in Southeast Nigeria

Published Online: Oct 17, 2016

Page range: 93 - 102

Received: Oct 19, 2015

Accepted: May 17, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cjf-2016-0017

KeywordsCrustacean Encrusters, Epibiosis, Infestation, Prevalence rate

© 2016 James Philip Udoh et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Crustacean Encrusters, Epibiosis, Infestation, Prevalence rate