Genetic evidence for multiple paternity in the mangrove land crab Ucides cordatus (Decapoda: Ocypodidae)

Studies on mating patterns of marine crustaceans are rare, but the few studies on brachyuran crabs to date suggest that polyandrous mating is uncommon. In the present study, we used 6 microsatellite loci to genotype 8-16 larvae obtained from each of 10 gravid females of the crab Ucides cordatus (Bra...

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Published inMarine biology research Vol. 7; no. 5; pp. 520 - 524
Main Authors Baggio, Rafael A., Pil, Maria W., Boeger, Walter A., Patella, Luciana A., Ostrensky, Antonio, Pie, Marcio R.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Taylor & Francis Group 01.07.2011
Subjects
Decapoda
Marine
Mating behavior
Ocypodidae
polyandry
sexual selection
Ucides cordatus
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Summary:Studies on mating patterns of marine crustaceans are rare, but the few studies on brachyuran crabs to date suggest that polyandrous mating is uncommon. In the present study, we used 6 microsatellite loci to genotype 8-16 larvae obtained from each of 10 gravid females of the crab Ucides cordatus (Brachyura: Ocypodidae). Based on the number of non-maternal alleles detected among the offspring, at least 40% of the females were inseminated by more than one male. We suggest forced copulation and maintenance of sperm in spermathecae throughout the year as possible causes of polyandry in U. cordatus.
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ISSN:1745-1000
1745-1019
DOI:10.1080/17451000.2010.528771