Linear-weight relationship of the species Carcinus aestuarii Nardo, 1847 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Carcinidae) along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast
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Date
2026-05-12
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Plovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski"
Abstract
Aim of the present study was to establish the growth of the decapod crustacean Carcinus aestuarii Nardo, 1847, for the Bulgarian Black Sea area. Biometric measurements of specimens sampled by diving and trawling were compared. Averaged values for carapace length (in cm) of the specimens collected by diving and trawling are relatively similar (4.25±0.856, against 4.92±0.064). Data for carapace mean width varied from 5.56±1.11 to 6.34±0.873 cm. Weight ranged from 8.5 to 167.86 g. Minimal values for size and weight were observed in the specimens collected by diving, and the maximum in the trawl discards. Positive allometric growth was observed in most cases, except for the total pool of discards and, in particular, for male individuals. Further detailed investigations on a monthly and seasonal basis are required to understand the complexity of factors influencing the populations of Carcinus aestuarii and its response to environmental changes.
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Mediterranean green crab, length/width-weight ratio, Crustacea, the Black Sea