Community ecology of crab larvae in the rivers of Sundarbans mangrove, Bangladesh

Abstract

The composition, density and distribution patterns of crab larvae along with other shelland
finfish larvae in the rivers of Sundarbans with different salinity zones were investigated.
Megalopa of crabs were most numerous, making up to 25.6% of the total shellfish catch. The
commercial important mud crab species Scylla spp. were observed frequently with maximum
abundance occurred during winter from November to February. No significant seasonal or lunar
variation in abundance of crab larvae was observed, although major annual peak in monsoon was
recorded. The results have important implications for the development of a sustainable mud crab
aquaculture based on collection of juvenile crab from Sundarbans