MEPS 203:215-224 (2000)  -  doi:10.3354/meps203215

ABSTRACT: Some Age-0 males of the protandrous pandalid shrimp Pandalus latirostris Rathbun mature in their first year, and the proportion of these early maturing males (EMMs) in a population varies both locally and annually. Two laboratory experiments and 2 field observations were conducted to clarify the factors affecting the occurrence of EMMs. The first experiment showed that EMMs needed to grow fast until the breeding season and began producing sperm at about 14 mm carapace length. Individuals with an AMP (length of the endopod/length of the appendix masculina) value above 40 were defined as EMMs. In the second experiment, the effects of food amount, hatching date and maternal size on growth at Age-0 were examined. Food amount strongly affected the early growth. A difference in hatching date of >2 wk caused a large difference in body size of juveniles; this difference was maintained until the breeding season 3 mo later. Large females spawned larger larvae than small females, but the size difference between larvae from large females and those from small females decreased with time. Field observations showed that at one site in Saroma Lagoon, Hokkaido, Japan, hatching occurred over a 1 mo period. In 1996/1997, we found no obvious differences of size distribution of Age-0 individuals and the occurrence of EMM as a function of location in the lagoon or year. These results may have been caused by slow growth, because water temperatures in the lagoon were much colder in 1996/1997 than during 1987 to 1995. We conclude that the occurrence of EMMs is closely related to various environmental factors in shallow waters. Therefore, the proportion of EMMs may fluctuate both locally and annually. This study shows that a small difference in juvenile growth over a short period can alter the subsequent life history of P. latirostris.

KEY WORDS: Protandry · Pandalid shrimp · Growth · Maturity · Life history variation