Reproductive biology of red deep-sea crabs

Deep sea red crabs Chaceon quinquedens support a small but valuable federally-managed fishery along the US Atlantic coast, but lack of information about their biology, abundance, growth, age, or reproduction prohibits adequate management. Since 2011, we have been studying their depth distribution, size at maturity, seasonality of reproduction, fecundity, age structure, and larval biology. Preliminary data collected aboard NOAA Research Vessels during 2011-2013 indicates that female red crabs have a biennial reproductive cycle. In 2013-2017, students sampled crabs aboard commercial fishing vessels to verify this information. Dr. Stephanie Martinez (UMES 2018) conducted histological analysis of gonad tissues, as well as examination of ovaries and embryos, in order to define the gonadal and reproductive cycle. PhD Student Shadaesha Green has been studying the molecular biology of reproductive hormones at UMCES-IMET to determine their sources and rates of expression. UMES student Justin Wilson (MS 2017) estimated the age of red crabs using the gastric mill. Nivette Perez-Perez (MS 2017, Delaware State) conducted research on the larval development and nutrition at the NOAA Sandy Hook Laboratory.

This project has been funded by the NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center.