• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.48-55
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• 2009

The gonad maturation and spawning of blue crab, Portunus trituberculatus (Miers, 1876) using samples caught by trammer net in the western coast of Korea from January to December. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) showed the highest value of 15.0 in June and lowest value of 1.29 in August. Hepatosomatic index (HSI) showed the lowest in the spawning season from June to July. Thereafter, from August the value started to increase to 5.77 in December, showing an adverse trend against GSI. In the histological studies of the female reproductive organ, the gonad filled with primary oocytes from January to February and secondary oocytes in May. The female gonads mature from June, and mature and immature groups could be distinguished from December to February or March. In August, female developed another cycle of gonad development, showing new primary oocytes in the gonads again. Some of female crabs had receptaculum filled with already active sperm cells in it from March to May. In the time of August to September, almost all the females had the sperm sacs in the receptaculum. From the result, the coupling period estimated from August to September. Total RNA and DNA values of the crabs were highest in May (2.51, $0.57{\mu}g/mg$). The DNA value remained unchanged except for the value in May ($0.09-0.13{\mu}g/mg$). while RNA value was lowest in January ($1.08{\mu}g/mg$). The RAN/DNA ratio was the lowest (6.23%) in May and highest (18.05%) in July. The value of correlations coefficient between body weight and fecundity of the crabs was higher that of between carapace width and fecundity.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.28-36
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• 1974

For the development of acoustic fishing method, we had been researched a fundamental study which concerned on the sound production and behaviour of crabs was conducted. For specimen crabs such as Portunus trituberculatus and Charybdis japonica were selected. Croaking noise were recorded by the Cassette-recorder (Sony model CF-1600) through the under water monitor microphone, and analyzed in frequencies by Octave band analyzer, Rion SA-55, and sound pressure level of source by sound level meter, SM-5844. The following are the results obtained from the present investigations : When sound production of crabs (Portunus trituberculatus( female ) : carapace width $12.6\~15$cm) were attracted to another crabs in the water of anechoic aquarium, efficacy of phonotaxis was $84\~100\%$ and velocity by phonotaxis was $6.5\~7.2cm/sec$. The time required for copulation ranged from 90 minute to 95 minutes by Charybdis japonica, at that time there was no sound production with their copulation.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.637-644
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• 2014

Two Chionoecetes crabs, C. opilio and C. japonicus are primary targets of trap fisheries in the East Sea. To promote the sustainable management of these species, we investigated their reproductive biology and spatial distribution based on samples collected in standardized traps in the coastal waters of eastern Korea from September 2007 to August 2008. The estimated spawning season of C. opilio was March-April, whereas that of C. japonicus continued year-round. The estimated molting period of both species was September-October. Fecundity of C. opilio was proportional to female, size, ranging from 44,791 to 151,538 eggs, and the estimated body size at 50% sexual maturity was 63.9 mm carapace width. Egg bearing female C. opilio were mostly collected depths of 200-300 m, particularly off Hupo and Chuksan, suggesting that these areas are their major spawning grounds. In contrast, female C. japonicus were mostly collected at depths of 400-600 m, peaking at 600 m. The species-specific catch rate was higher for C. opilio above 400 m, similar at ca. 450 m, and higher for C. japonicus below 500 m. These vertical differences indicate apparent spatial segregation of the species, suggesting that spatially-explicit fisheries management plans may be necessary for mitigating conflicts between the respective crab fisheries and maintaining these crabs.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2008

Reproductive ecology of the snow crab Chionoecetes opilio was investigated in terms of the reproductive organs, abdominal flap, fecundity, and maturity. Specimens were collected with gill nets and trawls from June 2002 to May 2003 in the eastern waters of Korea. The female and male C. opilio are distinguished only by the shape of the abdominal flap, which is triangular in males and circular in females. The gonads of female and male crabs are generally X-shaped. The male gonad is white, while the female gonad appears milk-white after spawning and then turns from light orange to dark orange with maturation. The female gonads matured from June, and mature and immature groups could be distinguished from December to February or March. Brooding eggs changed from bright orange to dark brown with formation of the compound eye immediately before hatching. Accordingly, the main spawning season is February and March. The minimum maturity carapace width of female crabs was 61.1 mm, and the mean fecundity is about 108,300 eggs.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 1998

The results of experimental culture for Koran mitten crab, Eriocheir japonicus at different outdoor culture methods such as rice field, pond, and vinyl house from July 21, 1994 to October 23, 1995 were summaried as fellows. 1. The water temperature was 2${\circ}C$~32${\circ}C$ during the culture periods from July 21, 1994 to October 23, 1995, and it ranged from 15${\circ}C$ to 30${\circ}C$ during the terms showing the intake habit of feed with these temperature maintained for 281 days of 460days of the total cultur periods. 2. The gain weight of Korean mitten crabs was 1,711.3g at the rice field, and 1,565.4g at the pond, and 1.220.0g at the vinyl house. The survial rate was 22.7% at the pond, and 18.7% at the rice field, and 18.3% at the vinyl house with the average survial rate of 19.9%. The daily growth rate of cauapace width was 0.64% at the rice field, and 0.61% at the pond, and 0.59% at the vinyl house. And the gain weight and the daily growth rate were the best at the rice field. 3. When the culture was finished, the frequency of carapace width of 4.0~4.9cm was 57.1% at the rice field, and 33.3% at the vinyl house. Therefore, culture at the rice field for the cultur of mitten card was considered to be the best outdoor culture method from the point of view in the fast growth and polyculture feasibility with paddy rice.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.297-305
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• 2009

The Asian paddle crab, Charybdis japonica (A. Milne-Edwards) is an important fishery resource in Korea. Despite its common occurrence and commercial importance, few studies have been carried out on the life cycle and trophic ecology of these populations inhabiting on the tidal flat. Food habits of C. japonica populations were investigated on the Jangbong tidal flat, Incheon, Korea. Monthly samples were taken using a modified otter trawl from November 1999 to January 2001. Based on the examination of stomach contents from 257 individuals, the frequencies of occurrence and the relative volumes of food items were analysed. As a result, the crustaceans (the brachyura, the cirripedia and the harpacticoid copepoda), the echinoderms (the ophiuroidea) and the molluscs (the cephalopoda Loligo beka, the bivalves Bivalvia unid. and Mytilus galloprovincialis) were important food for this species. To examine ontogenetic shifts in diets, individuals of C. japonica were categorized into 2 different size classes (${\leq}60mm$ and ${\geq}61mm$ in carapace width) representing sexually premature and mature stages. The food items of the small crabs (${\leq}60mm$) were dominated by the crustaceans with the harpacticoid copepods constituting 84.6% of total prey number. The next group was the bivalves and the brachyurans. On the other hand, the large crabs (${\geq}61mm$) mainly feed on the bivalvia (Mytilus galloprovincialis and Bivalvia unid.), the brachyurans (Crab unid.) and occasionally the cephalopods and fishes. The difference in proportions of the main prey items among these two size classes was statistically significant. Therefore, the feeding habits of the portunid crab, C. japonica changed with growth.