Effect of pairing periods on mating and spawning success of the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Decapoda: Cambaridae) under laboratory conditions

抄録

The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii is an invasive alien species worldwide but it was commercially exploited. Laboratory studies have been conducted to examine the reproductive aspects of this species, pairing males and females for 1–5 days, as a basis for developing the control measures for invasive populations and improving aquaculture technologies. However, the effect of pairing periods on the mating and spawning success is largely unknown, and the present study therefore aimed to elucidate the effect of different periods (one, five and 10 days) in this species. The pairs were videorecorded for each entire pairing period, and the length of pairing did not significantly affect copulation or spawning. Copulation was prolific on the first day and its intensity was similar among the test groups, indicating that a one-day pairing period is sufficient for successful mating in P. clarkii under laboratory conditions.