Recruitment of Callinectes sapidus Rathbun 1896 Megalopae from Three Southwestern Gulf of Mexico Lagoon-system Inlets

This study evaluated the highest recruitment time of Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun, 1896) megalopae and the relation of megalopae density with temperature, salinity, velocity and direction of current flow in three inlets of the Southwestern portion of the Gulf of Mexico. Collections were made at night, using for the capture a conical 243-mm mesh net. The total abundance of C. sapidus for the three coastal systems was of 2,579,725 megalopae. The average temperature was of 28.231.37C, salinity of 23.547.10 psu and stream velocity of 0.390.18 m sec-1. During the study, recruitment peaks were observed between 22:00 and 02:00 h. The maximal recruitment was registered in the SM river inlet, whereas Puerto Real inlet representing the lowest recruitment registered. The correlation between salinity and megalopae density was significant (p = 0.05) in the three coastal systems. The highest density was registered when salinity was > 23 psu. Recruitment was related to the influx of seawater towards the coastal systems. There were no significant differences in magalopae density (p = 0.05) between consecutive sampling cycles.