Effects of Different Inbreeding Degree on Reproductive Performance of Swimming Crab (Portunus trituberculatus)

Abstract:

This study investigated the effects of inbreeding on the reproductive performance of swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus, by comparing reproductive traits, including fecundity, egg production, fecundity per unit body weight, egg production per unit body weight, hatchability and metamorphosis rate, in full-sib families of six generations (F1m to F6m). The results showed that the range of inbreeding depression coefficients were –2.789% ~ –6.620%, –1.188% ~ –5.938% and –1.859% ~ –7.222% for fecundity per unit body weight, egg production per unit body weight and hatching rate, respectively, and there was no significant inbreeding depression in these three traits (P > 0.05). As inbreeding level increased, metamorphosis rate from zoea Ⅰ to juvenile crab Ⅱ presented a downward trend.