Female reproductive characteristics of three species in the Orconectes subgenus Trisellescens and comparisons to other Orconectes species
| Authors: | S. B. Adams |
| Year: | 2008 |
| Type: | Scientific Journal (JRNL) |
| Station: | Southern Research Station |
| Source: | Freshwater Crayfish 16:147-153. |
Abstract
In streams of Mississippi and southwest Tennessee, Orconectes females with eggs or hatchlings are not commonly encountered while sampling. I report on fecundity, egg size, and aspects of reproductive timing for small samples of female Orconectes chickasawae, Orconectes etnieri, and Orconectes jonesi carrying eggs or hatchlings and discuss the results in the context of the subgenus and genus. Ovigerous O. jonesi females, collected in March, had the fewest eggs of the three species. Ovigerous O. chickasawae and O. etnieri were collected in March and April, with fecundity not significantly different between the two species. Orconectes etnieri had the largest eggs of the three species. Results are compared to data for other species within the subgenus and genus.