The present study aimed to investigate the life history traits of blue crabs Callinectes sapidus found in four estuarine systems—two on the Gulf coast of Florida (St. Andrews Bay and Suwannee Sound) and two on the Atlantic coast (St. Johns and Halifax rivers). Females in St. Andrews Bay, Suwannee Sound, the St. Johns River, and the Halifax River reached maturity at a carapace width (measured from lateral spine tip to lateral spine tip) of 116.5, 121.9, 129.5, and 123.7 mm, respectively. At both Gulf coast locations, year‐round spawning was not observed; peak spawning occurred in early to late spring, and in St. Andrews Bay there was an additional fall spawning event. On the Atlantic coast, spawning females were collected almost year round, with the greatest abundance in winter through spring and an additional peak in late summer. Potential fecundity on both coasts was directly correlated with body size and was greatest at the beginning of each reproductive season. Egg diameter from crabs on both coasts was independent of female size and was influenced by month, with the largest egg diameters observed in the earlier months of the year. Overall, there was an inverse relationship between potential fecundity and egg diameter. Mean potential fecundity for females sampled in St. Andrews Bay, the Halifax River, and the St. Johns River was 1.8, 2.1, and 2.2 million eggs, respectively. This demonstrates that seasonality is important for blue crab reproductive output and for the timing of juvenile and fishery recruitment.

中文翻译：

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佛罗里达州两个墨西哥湾沿岸和两个大西洋河口的蓝蟹产卵和招聘

本研究旨在调查蓝蟹Callinectes sapidus的生活史特征。在四个河口系统中发现-两个在佛罗里达州墨西哥湾沿岸（圣安德鲁斯湾和Suwannee Sound），另一个在大西洋沿岸（圣约翰斯和哈利法克斯河）。在圣安德鲁斯湾，苏旺尼峡湾，圣约翰斯河和哈利法克斯河中的雌性分别达到了116.5、121.9、129.5和123.7毫米的甲壳宽度（从脊柱外侧到脊柱外侧测量）。在两个墨西哥湾沿岸地区，都没有观察到全年产卵的现象。产卵高峰发生在早春至晚春，在圣安德鲁斯湾还有另外的秋季产卵事件。在大西洋沿岸，几乎全年都收集有产卵雌性，冬季至春季有最多的产卵，而夏末则有另一个高峰。两个海岸的潜在繁殖力与体重直接相关，在每个繁殖季节开始时最大。两岸螃蟹的卵径均与雌性大小无关，并受月份的影响，其中最大的卵径发生在一年的前几个月。总体而言，潜在的繁殖力与卵径之间存在反比关系。在圣安德鲁斯湾，哈利法克斯河和圣约翰斯河采样的雌性的平均潜在繁殖力分别为1.8、2.1和220万个卵。这表明季节性对于蓝蟹的繁殖产量以及少年和渔业招募的时间很重要。在一年中的前几个月观察到最大的卵径。总体而言，潜在的繁殖力与卵径之间存在反比关系。在圣安德鲁斯湾，哈利法克斯河和圣约翰斯河采样的雌性的平均潜在繁殖力分别为1.8、2.1和220万个卵。这表明季节性对于蓝蟹的繁殖产量以及少年和渔业招募的时间很重要。在一年中的前几个月观察到最大的卵径。总体而言，潜在的繁殖力与卵径之间存在反比关系。在圣安德鲁斯湾，哈利法克斯河和圣约翰斯河采样的雌性的平均潜在繁殖力分别为1.8、2.1和220万个卵。这表明季节性对于蓝蟹的繁殖产量以及少年和渔业招募的时间很重要。