OBSERVATIONS ON THE BIOLOGY OF Macrobrachium

americanum BATE FROM A POND ENVIRONMENT IN PANAMA^

R . 0 . Smitherman, D . D . Moss, and Enrique L . Diaz'
I n t e r n a t i o n a l C e n t e r f o r Aquaculture
and
Department of F i s h e r i e s and A l l i e d A q u a c u l t u r e s
Auburn U n i v e r s i t y A g r i c u l t u r a l Experiment S t a t i o n
Auburn, Alabama 36830

ABSTRACT

O b s e n r a t i o n s o n t h e b i o l o g y o f Macrobrachium americanum from

a 0.61-ha pond on t h e P a c i f i c s l o p e o f c e n t r a l Panama were made
from 1970 t o 1973. Specimens w e r e t r a n s p o r t e d t o Auburn U n i v e r s i t y
i n 1970, and t h e i r growth r a t e and c o l d t o l e r a n c e were observed i n
ponds. F e c u n d i t y and e a r l y l i f e o f l a r v a e were s t u d i e d i n t h e
laboratory.

Spawning ir. t h e Panama pond o c c u r r e d June t o November, w i t h a

peak i n September when 55% of a l l c a p t u r e d females had eggs. Methods
f o r d e t e r m i n i n g s e x o f immature prawns were d e v i s e d . Length-weight
r e l a t i o n s h i p s f o r t h e p o p u l a t i o n w e r e determined.

Feeding e x p e r i m e n t s i n a q u a r i a , and t h e wide v a r i e t y of p l a n t

and animal m a t e r i a l s used s u c c e s s f u l l y a s b a i t , i n d i c a t e d t h e omni-
vorous food h a b i t s of Macrobrachium americanum.

R e c a p t u r e s o f i d e n t i f i a b l e specimens s u g g e s t e d t e r r i t o r a l i t y .
The importance of s p a c e t o i n d i v i d u a a d u l t shrimp was f u r t h e r i n d i -
cated by t h e p o s i t i v e c o r r e l a t i o n o f number o f specimens c a p t u r e d
with a r e a o f t r a p bottom.

INTRODUCTION

S p e c i e s o f Macrobrachium have p o t e n t i a l f o r a q u a c u l t u r e i n
Southeast A s i a and o t h e r t r o p i c a l and s u b t r o p i c a l r e g i o n s (Ling,
1
This s t u d y was s u p p o r t e d i n p a r t by t h e Agency f o r I n t e r n a t i o n a l
Development (AID/la-684).
2
Department o f Marine Resources, M i n i s t r y o f Commerce and I n d u s t r y ,
Government o f Panama, Panama C i t y , R e p u b l i c of Panama.
29
30 WORLD MARICULTURE SOCIETY WORKSHOP

1969a; L i n g , 196913; Shang, 1972). According t o H o t h u i s ( 1 9 5 2 ) ,

26 s p e c i e s o f t h e genus a r e known from t h e Americas. A l l i n h a b i t
f r e s h w a t e r , a l t h o u g h c e r t a i n s p e c i e s a p p a r e n t l y go downstream t o
b r a c k i s h w a t e r t o produce young.

During a s u r v e y of f i s h e r y r e s o u r c e s i n Panama (Smitherman

and Moss, 1 9 7 0 ) , a p o p u l a t i o n o f prawns r e a c h i n g maximum i n d i v i d u a l
w e i g h t s o f 3 7 2 g was d i s c o v e r e d i n a 0.61-ha f r e s h w a t e r pond i n Pana-
ma P r o v i n c e on t h e P a c i f i c s l o p e o f C e n t r a l Panama. The pond was
r e p o r t e d t o have had a s u s t a i n e d p o p u l a t i o n f o r 3 y e a r s f o l l o w i n g a
s t o c k i n g o f e i g h t a d u l t s from a nearby man-made l a k e . Specimens
from t h e pond p o p u l a t i o n were s u b s e q u e n t l y identified as Macrobrach-
-
ium americanum Bate, t h e b i o l o g y o f which i s l i t t l e known (de l a
Cruz, 1968).

S t u d i e s were i n i t i a t e d a t Auburn U n i v e r s i t y and i n Panama t o

obtain basic l i f e h i s t o r y data pertinent t o possible aquaculture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

S t u d i e s a t Auburn U n i v e r s i t y

C o l l e c t i o n and T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f Specimens

Prawns were c a p t u r e d by w i r e t r a p s from a 0.61-ha pond l o c a t e d

o n a small s t r e a m t r i b u t a r y t o t h e Rio J u a n Diaz, Panama P r o v i n c e ,
R e p u b l i c o f Panama. The pond, b u i l t i n 1968 on a stream which
flowed e x c e p t f o r t h e months o f J a n u a r y , F e b r u a r y , and March, was
l o c a t e d 5 kn? by a i r , o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y 10 lan by s t r e a m , from t h e
mouth o f t h e Rio J u a n Diaz on t h e P a c i f i c Ocean.

T r a p s used were o f 3-to 13-mm mesh hardware c l o t h and had

f u n n e l s t a p e r i n g over 15 cm from a n e n t r a n c e d i a m e t e r o f 12.5 c m
t o a 7,5 cm i n t e r i o r t e r m i n u s . T r a p s were r e c t a n g u l a r o r c u b i c ,
and v a r i e d from 0.57 m 3 t o 0.70 m3 i n volume. Baits i n c l u d e d f i s h ,
b e e f o r c h i c k e n s c r a p s , s t a l e b r e a d , and banana o r p i n e a p p l e p e e l s .

On 25 J u n e , 1970, s e v e n a d u l t prawns a p p r o x i m a t e l y 60g each

were t r a n s p o r t e d by a i r t o Auburn from Panama u s i n g p l a s t i c b a g s ,
w a t e r , oxygen, and s t y r a f o a m c o n t a i n e r s . The prawns w e r e i n t r a n s i t
f o r 1 2 h o u r s d u r i n g which t i m e w a t e r t e m p e r a t u r e i n t r a n s p o r t con-
t a i n e r s v a r i e d from 28.3 C a t t h e Panama pond t o 25.5 C a t t h e
Auburn U n i v e r s i t y l a b o r a t o r y . One day a f t e r a r r i v a l , t h e prawns
w e r e s t o c k e d i n t o two 0.04-ha ponds, M-9 and M-10, where t h e w a t e r
t e m p e r a t u r e w a s 26.7 C. Pond M-10 r e c e i v e d f i v e f e m a l e s , one o f
which c a r r i e d e g g s , and one male. Pond M-9 r e c e i v e d one female
w i t h eggs. Both ponds c o n t a i n e d d r a i n a g e t i l e s f o r s h e l t e r f o r t h e
prawns

O n 1 7 November, 1970, a second shipment o f prawns was r e c e i v e d

a t Auburn from t h e pond i n Panama. These animals, i n c l u d i n g s i x
a d u l t males, e i g h t a d u l t females w i t h e g g s , and 1 7 j u v e n i l e s , were
Biology o f Macrobrachium 31
p l a c e d i n a q u a r i a and t r o u g h s and observed f o r f e e d i n g b e h a v i o r ,
f e c u n d i t y , h a t c h i n g , and s u r v i v a l of l a r v a e . Temperature d u r i n g t h e
17-hour t r a n s i t v a r i e d from 26.7 C i n t h e Panama pond t o a low o f
17.2 C and was g r a d u a l l y r e t u r n e d t o 26.7 C d u r i n g a 2-hour p e r i o d
a f t e r a r r i v a l , and m a i n t a i n e d . To t e s t f o r e f f e c t s o f h a n d l i n g , a l l
prawns were o f f e r e d f l e s h from t h e g r a s s c a r p , Ctenopharyngodon
i d e l l a 30 minutes a f t e r placement i n a q u a r i a and t r o u g h s .

Fecundity, Hatching and S u r v i v a l o f Larvae i n t h e L a b o r a t o r y

Two b e r r i e d females o f t h e November shipment were p r e s e r v e d

i n f o r m a l i n and c o u n t s were made o f t h e i r e g g s , P r i o r t o p r e s e r -
v a t i o n , 1 0 eggs from each female were observed and measured.

Mating and e g g l a y i n g w e r e not s t u d i e d w i t h shrimp o f e i t h e r

shipment, but h a t c h i n g , and l e n g t h of l a r v a l l i f e i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y
were observed i n s e v e r a l females from t h e November group. F u r t h e r ,
t h e e f f e c t s o f r e c o n s t i t u t e d s e a w a t e r on s u r v i v a l o f l a r v a e was
studied,

Growth and S u r v i v a l o f A d u l t Shrimp i n Ponds

Pond M-9 r e c e i v e d a b e r r i e d female shrimp which was 156 mm

i n l e n g t h from r o s t r u m t o t e l s o n and weighed 69 g. The pond r e c e i v e d
p e r i o d i c a p p l i c a t i o n s of Auburn No. 2 p e l l e t e d c a t f i s h f e e d and
t r i p l e superphosphate t o m a i n t a i n a p h y t o p l a n k t o n bloom w i t h v i s i -
b i l i t y of not more t h a n 30 cm. The pond was s e i n e d a t monthly i n t e r -
v a l s w i t h a 2-mm mesh n y l o n n e t f o r e v i d e n c e o f young, and w i r e
t r a p s o f 13-mm m s h hardware c l o t h were used monthly i n a n a t t e m p t
t o c a p t u r e t h e s t o c k e d a d u l t shrimp. A f t e r 4 months t h e pond was
d r a i n e d and t h e r e s u l t s e v a l u a t e d .

The shrimp s t o c k e d i n t o Pond M-10 were n o t weighed i n i t i a l l y ,

but females were p r a c t i c a l l y i d e n t i c a l i n s i z e t o t h e one s t o c k e d
i n t o M-9. Pond M-10 was t r e a t e d i n t h e same manner a s M-9.

Feeding S t u d i e s

During t h e s t u d y p e r i o d 25 J u n e , 1970 t o 20 J a n u a r y , 1971,

numerous o b s e r v a t i o n s w e r e made o n f o o d s t u f f s shrimp would e a t i n
the laboratory. I t e m s o f f e r e d i n c l u d e d f i s h muscle, b o i l e d ham,
earthworms, and p e l l e t e d f i s h feed.

S t u d i e s i n Panama

C o l l e c t i o n o f Specimens

Wire t r a p s were used d u r i n g A p r i l 1972 t h r o u g h June 1973 i n

t h e same 0.61-ha pond i n Panama i n o r d e r t o e s t a b l i s h spawning
seasons f o r t h e l o c a l p o p u l a t i o n o f Macrobrachium aiurricanum.
Traps and b a i t s are a s d e s c r i b e d above. T r a p c a t c h e s were n o t e d
weekly, and seine (2 mm mesh) h a u l s were made a p p r o x i m a t e l y monthly
32 WORLD MARICULTURE SOCIETY WORKSHOP

i n a n attempt t o determine t h e presence o f p o s t l a n a i o r j u v e n i l e

shrimp. C e r t a i n weather f a c t o r s including temperature and r a i n f a l l
were noted f o r p o t e n t i a l e f f e c t on catch.

Length-Weight

The length (mm) from t i p of rostrum t o t i p of t e l s o n , carapace

l e n g t h , and extended l e n g t h - - t i p o f extended chelae t o t i p of
telson--was recorded f o r each specimen by sex. Neight was taken
f o r each i n grams. Shrimp were returned t o t h e pond a f t e r measure-
ment.

Sex and Reproduction

Sex was determined on t h e s m a l l e s t specimens encountered (9 g,

88 mm rostrum-telson) by t h e presence o f p a i r e d sperm duct openings
covered by f l e x i b l e c h i t i n o u s f l a p s on t h e coxal j o i n t s of t h e f i f t h
p a i r of pereiopods o r walking l e g s (McCormick, 1933)- The s e t a e -
covered g e n i t a l pores of t h e females, l o c a t e d i n corresponding posi-
t i o n on t h e bases of t h e t h i r d p a i r of pereiopods, were more d i f f i -
c u l t t o d i s t i n g u i s h . However, females could be d i s t i n g u i s h e d up t o
2 months p r i o r t o spawning by t h e cream t o gold c o l o r of t h e v e n t r a l
margin of t h e abdominal segments., The abdominal segments of t h e
female during t h i s pre-spawning period became n o t i c e a b l y lengthened
and t h e second abdominal segment became g r e a t l y broadened a s w e l l .
These modifications e f f e c t i v e l y formed a p r o t e c t i v e chamber f o r che
eggs were noted during t h e 15-month period.

Males, e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e considered t o be i n t h e i r second y e a r ,

g e n e r a l l y were l a r g e r and possessed s t r o n g , heavy chelae. This
size dimorphism h a s been g e n e r a l l y used t o s e p a r a t e t h e sexes (Hol-
t h i u s , 1952; de l a Cmz, 1968).

Food Habits

Observations on types of food taken by t h e shrimp were made on

t r a p b a i t s , on r e g u r g i t a t e d m a t e r i a l s , and on feed o f f e r e d t h e
animals i n experimental a q u a r i a .

RESULTS

Auburn U n i v e r s i t y

Transportation ,

A l l shrimp i n the two shipments t o Auburn survived and s e v e r a l

a d u l t specimens a g r e s s i v e l y sought and fed upon cubes o f f l e s h
from the g r a s s c a r p w i t h i n 30 minutes a f t e r shrimp w e r e placed i n
a q u a r i a and troughs.
Biology o f Macrobrachium 33

Fecundity and Egg S i z e

Egg count and egg s i z e f o r two b e r r i e d females were a s

follows:

Length Wt W t eggs No Eggs P e r Egg

(m) (R) (g) eggs g of s i z e (mm)

1 149 54.43 7-73 86 ,024 1,580 0.63 x 0.46

2 156 56.85 7.95 87,071 1,531 0.63 x 0 - 4 6

Egg s i z e i s a n a v e r a g e v a l u e f o r 20 measurements f o r each o f

two axes through t h e o v o i d , "egg-shaped e g g s . " The range and mean
-
s h o r t e r a x i s was 0.33 -
f o r t h e l o n g e r a x i s was 0.58 0.71 (0.63) mm and t h a t f o r t h e
0.50 0 - 4 6 ) m, These d a t a o n egg s i z e
agree c l o s e l y w i t h t h o s e o f de l a Cruz (1968) from Mexico (0.67 x
0.44 mm), but e s t i m a t e s o f 200,000 t o 500,000 eggs p e r female by
de l a Cruz a p p e a r t o o h i g h . Based on f i g u r e s i n t h e p r e s e n t s t u d y ,
and on e s t i m a t e s o f r e c e n t l y h a t c h e d l a r v a e by Diaz3, e x t r e m e l y
large females o f 187 mm and 145 g might produce up t o 228,000 eggs.
Most h e a l t h y females i n t h e Panama p o p u l a t i o n , which r e c e i v e d some
supplemental f e e d , p r o b a b l y produced 50,000 t o 150,000 e g g s .

Hatching and S u r v i v a l o f Larvae i n t h e L a b o r a t o r y

F i v e b e r r i e d females n o t used i n t h e f e c u n d i t y s t u d y h a t c h e d
t h e i r young a t 25.5 - 2 7 - 8 C w i t h i n 4-7 days a f t e r a r r i v a l a t
Auburn o n 1 7 November 1970, One o t h e r female d i e d when w a t e r temper-
a t u r e a c c i d e n t l y r o s e t o 37.2 C, On a r r i v a l , eggs on b e r r i e d
females were y e l l o w i s h t o g r a y , and were eyed. I n t h e c o n d i t i o n e d
freshwater o f t h e a q u a r i a , l a r v a e w e r e o f f e r e d egg y o l k , minced f i s h
flesh and p l a n k t o n a s recommended by Ling (1968b) f o r g. r o s e n b e r g i i .
Since it was s t r o n g l y b e l i e v e d by P a n a m n i a n p e r s o n n e l t h a t t h e
l o c a l p o p u l a t i o n o f g. Americanum was a n i s o l a t e d group s u s t a i n e d
i n f r e s h w a t e r , t h e aquarium environment was not i n i t i a l l y a l t e r e d
with s a l t . The i n i t i a l l y v i g o u r o u s , p h o t o t r o p i c l a r v a e g r a d u a l l y
became less a c t i v e , and u s u a l l y d i e d w i t h i n 24 h o u r s a f t e r h a t c h i n g
without e v i d e n c e o f having t a k e n any of t h e foods o f f e r e d ,

When s e a s a l t was added t o t h e c u l t u r e medium, s u r v i v a l of

larvae was d r a m a t i c a l l y enhanced. The f o l l o w i n g r e s u l t s were
obtained i n t e s t s i n i t i a t e d w i t h v i g o u r o u s l y swimining 20-hour-old
larvae :

3
Diaz, E. L. 1973. P e r s o n a l communication,
34 WORLD MARICULTURE SOCIETY WORKSHOP

Salinity S u r v i v a l (%) of l a r v a e a t hours

ppt 0 4 16 24 41 50

0 100 76 0 0 0 0
12 100 LOO 100 100 27 13
18 100 100 100 100 63 17
36 100 100 100 100 60 43

These and o t h e r observations i n d i c a t e d t h a t _M. americanum found

many km inland i n seemingly i s o l a t e d environments i n Panama were
dependent upon brackish water f o r l a r v a l development. Indeed,
l a t e r s t u d i e s by M u l v i h i l l (1971) showed t h a t 'carcinus, a close
r e l a t i v e of M. americanum, could be reared using modified c u l t u r e
methods of Ling (1969b).

Growth and S u r v i v a l of Adult Shrimp i n Ponds

Pond M-9, stocked with a s i n g l e b e r r i e d female, had no young

shrimp when seined o r when drained a f t e r 4 months, i n October, 1970.
The female grew from 156 mm t o 175 mm (rostrum-telson) and gained
23 g during t h i s period. On 16 October water temperature i n M-9
dropped 12.8 C. When t h e female shrimp w a s recovered upon d r a i n i n g
it was p r a c t i c a l l y immobile. When i t s c o n t a i n e r water was g r a d u a l l y
r a i s e d t o 21.1 C over a 1-hour p e r i o d , however, t h e animal r a p i d l y
regained m o b i l i t y and fed on d r y f i s h feed p e l l e t s from 17 t o 20
October. On 20 October soon a f t e r t h e shrimp had been handled and
measured, it was o f f e r e d l i v e e a r t h worms i n a n aquarium where t h e
water was 20.0 C. The shrimp immediately captured and a t e t h e
earthworms.

Ponds M-10, stocked with f i v e female shrimp (one b e r r i e d ) and

one male, had no young when seined o r when drained a f t e r 4 months.
No i n i t i a l measurements w e r e taken a t s t o c k i n g , but estimated
weight of each female was 50 g. A t d r a i n i n g , only two females:
164 mm, 66g; and 16(hm, 64 g, were recovered. These w e r e also
exposed t o 22.8 C temperature and w e r e handled a s t h a t i n M-9. Both
females recovered and fed on f i s h feed and earthworms.

Feeding Studies

During l a b o r a t o r y observations shrimp a t e b o i l e d ham, f i s h

muscle, p e l l e t e d f i s h feed, and earthworms. Males w e r e g e n e r a l l y
more a g r e s s i v e , and learned w i t h i n 1 o r 2 days t o reach near t h e
water s u r f a c e of t h e i r trough o r aquarium t o t a k e cubes of f i s h
f l e s h from human hands. Females, e s p e c i a l l y ovigerous ones, tended
t o take food under cover where i t was consumed. P l a n t m a t e r i a l s
alone w e r e not o f f e r e d t h e shrimp; however, specimens captured
from ponds M-9 and M-10 sometimes r e g u r g i t a t e d green substances.
A j u v e n i l e specimen was observed t o e a t another j w e n i l e when t h e
l a t t e r had r e c e n t l y molted.
Biology of Macrobrachium 35

Panama

C o l l e c t i n g shrimp from t h e 0.61-ha pond w i t h w i r e t r a p s r e s u l t e d

i n 536 specimens o f & americanum r a n g i n g from 88 t o 233 mm, and 9
t o 372 g, Both t r a p s and s e i n e s t o o k l a r g e numbers of f i s h e s a s
s a m l l a s 10 mm and specimens of go d i g u e t i a s s m a l l a s 25 mm. Fishes
p r e s e n t w e r e s e v e r a l s m a l l s p e c i e s o f t h e f a m i l y Characidae,
Aequidens c o e r u l e o p u n c t a t u s ( C i c h i d a e ) , Synbranchus mannoratus
,
(Synbranchidae) and Rhamdia wagneri (Pimelodidae) .
It was noted t h a t c a t c h e s v a r i e d i n t h e t r a p s which d i f f e r e d
i n both volume and bottom s u r f a c e , It was determined t h a t both
volume (r=69) and bottom s u r f a c e ( ~ 0 . 9 5 ) w e r e p o s i t i v e l y c o r r e l a t e d
w i t h c a t c h . The g r e a t e r c o r r e l a t i o n w i t h bottom s u r f a c e i n d i c a t e s
t h a t _M. a m r i c a n u m h a s s p e c i f i c s p a c e r e q u i r e m e n t s . The a n i m a l s
were observed f i g h t i n g and p i n c h i n g one a n o t h e r i n t r a p s and when
confined w i t h l i t t l e space. This s h o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d when d e s i g n -
i n g h a r v e s t i n g and h o l d i n g f a c i l i t i e s o f any p o t e n t i a l c u l t u r e opera-
t i o n for t h i s species.

S e a s o n a l p a t t e r n o f c a t c h w a s i n d i c a t e d by t h a t i n a s i n g l e
r e c t a p u l a r s i d e d t r a p w i t h volume o f 0.57 m3 and bottom s u r f a c e o f
1,25 m B ~ It was noted t h a t c a t c h g e n e r a l l y i n c r e a s e d d u r i n g t h e
r a i n y s e a s o n of May t o November and reached a low i n J a n u a r y o f t h e
d r y season. Catch a g a i n i n c r e a s e d a s r a i n y s e a s o n approached and
temperature decreased.

Length-Weight (Rostrum-Telson)

Length-weight r e l a t i o n s h i p s f o r 220 females, 288 males, and 536

combined o b s e r v a t i o n s w e r e c a l c u l a t e d and p r e s e n t e d i n F i g u r e s 1, 2
and 3. Twenty-eight specimens w e r e measured b e f o r e methods f o r
determining s e x w e r e developed d u r i n g t h e f i r s t 2 months of t h e
e x p e r i m e n t a l p e r i o d . F e m l e s ranged i n l e n g t h from 88 t o 195 mm
and i n weight from 9 t o 145 g. Males ranged from 90 t o 233 mm, and
10 t o 372 g , r e s p e c t i v e l y .

Sex and Reproduction

The female shrimp p o p u l a t i o n had o v i g e r o u s i n d i v i d u a l s from

June t o November, 1972 and a g a i n i n June 1973. T h i s e g g l a y i n g and
e g g b e a r i n g s e a s o n i s t h e same a s r e p o r t e d f o r 1969 t o 1971 by t h e
pond owner and corresponds q u i t e c l o s e l y w i t h t h e r a i n y s e a s o n .
The e g g b e a r i n g peak was i n September when 55% o f females c a p t u r e d
had eggs. F e m l e s b e a r i n g eggs ranged i n l e n g t h from 132 t o 187 m,
and i n weight from 40 t o 145 g.

Eggs w e r e y e l l o w when f i r s t d e p o s i t e d on t h e pleopods, and

g r a d u a l l y transformed i n c o l o r t o orange t o red-brown t o g r e y when
e y e s p o t s appeared i n a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 weeks. Hatching o c c u r r e d
between 3 and 4 weeks a f t e r e g g l a y i n g . A s i n d i c a t e d by r e c a p t u r e s
o f i d e n t i f i a b l e i n d i v i d u a l s , a t l e a s t some o f t h e females hatched
36 WORLD MARICULTURE SOCIETY WORKSHOP

t h e i r eggs i n t h e f r e s h w a t e r pond, a l t h o u g h some may have m i g r a t e d

downstream t o t h e P a c i f i c . S i n c e no s m a l l shrimp l e s s t h a n 88 mrn
w e r e c a p t u r e d i n t h e pond, it i s concluded t h a t r e p l e n i s h m e n t of
t h e s t o c k i n t h e pond which h a s y i e l d e d a h a r v e s t o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y
2 kg (20 specimens) p e r week d u r i n g 1968 t h r o u g h 1972 i s m a i n l y
from m i g r a t i o n o f p o s t l a r v a e o r j u v e n i l e s upstream i n t o t h e pond
d u r i n g t h e r a i n y seaSon when t h e r e i s s t r e a m flow, The smallest
specimens t r a p p e d i n t h e pond were i n F e b r u a r y , It i s e s t i m a t e d
t h a t a f t e r a n i n c u b a t i o n and l a r v a l development p e r i o d o f a p p r o x i -
m a t e l y 3 months (June t o August), p o s t l a r v a e and j u v e n i l e s c o u l d
h a v e t r a v e l e d from t h e e s t u a r y t o t h e pond i n t h e p e r i o d September
t o December w h i l e t h e r e was s t r e a m flow.

Food H a b i t s

During c o l l e c t i n g o p e r a t i o n s i n t h e Panama pond, b r e a d , bananas,

b e e f , f i s h , shrimp, p o u l t r y , and p i n e a p p l e w e r e used s u c e s s f u l l y
as bait I n a d d i t i o n , shrimp c o l l e c t e d o f t e n r e g u r g i t a t e d g r e e n
m a t e r i a l t h o u g h t t o be Chara sp. which was a n abundant a q u a t i c p l a n t .
When shrimp were p l a c e d i n a q u a r i a w i t h c h a r a c i n s , o r c i c h l i d s ,
t h e y o f t e n caught and consumed t h e s e f i s h e s . zt i s assumed t h e y
o c c a s i o n a l l y preyed o n f i s h w h i l e i n t h e pond. Shrimp i n a q u a r i a
a l s o f e d on Elodea s p . and aquarium f i s h food p e l l e t s .

SW R Y

1. Macrobrachiurn americanum, l i k e most o t h e r s of i t s genus,

a p p a r e n t l y r e q u i r e s brackish w a t e r for development o f i t s larvae.

2. This shrimp i s omnivorous, b u t a p p a r e n t l y p r e f e r s food o f animal

origin.

3. This a n i m a l , which l i v e s normally a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 26.7 C , can

s u r v i v e 12.8 C. When one female was exposed t o 37.2 C , d e a t h
occurred.

4. F e c u n d i t y o f 54-57 g females was 86,000 t o 87,000 e g g s ; and

s i z e o f t h e ovoid egg was 0.63 nun x 0.46 mm. P r o j e c t e d f e c u n d i t y
of t h e l a r g e s t female i n t h e Panama p o p u l a t i o n was 228,000 eggs.

5, Adult female shrimp t r a n s p o r t e d from t h e Panama pond t o Auburn

ponds i n c r e a s e d a p p r o x i m a t e l y 33% of body weight i n 4 months
from June t o October. S u r v i v a l was 40% t o loo"/. i n the Auburn
ponds

6. Length-weight r e l a t i o n s h i p s , l i n e a r and c u r v i l i n e a r , were cal-

c u l a t e d f o r males, females, and combined p o p u l a t i o n f o r g.
americanum i n a pond environment i n Panama.

7. Spawning s e a s o n i n Panama was found t o i n c l u d e t h e months o f

J u n e t o November, which corresponds c l o s e l y t o t h e h e i g h t o f t h e
r a i n y season. Ovigerous females ranged from 132 t o 187 mm, and
40 t o 145 g , r e s p e c t i v e l y .
Biology of Macrobrachium 37

8. Eggs o f pI. americanum a r e y e l l o w when d e p o s i t e d , t u r n i n g orange,

red-brown, and g r e y b e f o r e h a t c h i n g a t about 3 weeks.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A p p r e c i a t i o n i s e x p r e s s e d t o M r , Antonio Dominguez, Panama,

owner o f t h e pond, who provided shrimp specimens and use of h i s
f a c i l i t i e s f o r t h e s t u d i e s . D r . A. E. Smalley, Department o f
Biology, Tulane U n i v e r s i t y , New Orleans , L o u i s i a n a , k i n d l y i d e n t i -
f i e d t h e shrimp and s u g g e s t e d v a l u a b l e r e f e r e n c e s . S p e c i a l thanks
a r e extended t o M r . Richard P r e t t o , f o r a s s i s t a n c e i n c o l l e c t i n g
d a t a a t t h e Panama pond, and t o D r . W. D. Davies, Auburn Univer-
s i t y Department o f F i s h e r i e s and A l l i e d Aquacultures , f o r guidance
w i t h s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s of t h e d a t a .

LITERATURE CITED

de l a Cruz, M.C.R. 1968. C o n t r i b u c i o n a 1 conocimiento de 10s

Palemonidos de Mexico: 111. Palemonidos d e l Golfo de C a l i f o r n i a ,
con n o t a s s o b r e l a b i o l o g i a de Macrobrachium americanum Bate.
FA0 F i s h e r i e s Reports 2 ( 5 7 ) : 373-380.

H o l t h u i s , L.B. 1952. A g e n e r a l r e v i s i o n of t h e Palaemonidae (Crus-

t a c e a Decapoda N a t h a n t i a ) of t h e Americas. 11. The subfamily
Palaemoninae. A l l a n Hancock Foundation P u b l i c a t i o n s . Occa-
s i o n a l Paper No. 12. 396 p.

Ling, S.W. 1969a. The g e n e r a l b i o l o g y and development o f Macro-

brachiurn r o s e n b e r g i i (de Man) * FA0 F i s h e r i e s Reports 3(57) :
589- 606.

Ling, S.W. 1969b. Methods o f r e a r i n g and c u l t u r i n g Macrobrachiurn

r o s e n b e r g i i (de Man). FA0 F i s h e r i e s Reports 3(57): 607-620.

McCormick, R.N. 1933. Macrobrachiurn o h i o n i s , t h e l a r g e f r e s h w a t e r

shrimp. Proceedings o f t h e I n d i a n a Academy o f Science 43:
2 18-224.

M u l v i h i l l , P. 1971. Demonstration p r o j e c t t o develop t e c h n i q u e s

f o r r e a r i n g f r e s h w a t e r shrimps i n a c o n t r o l l e d environment.
U.S Department o f Commerce , Economic Development Administra-
~

t i o n . 33p.

Shang, Y.C. 1972. Economic f e a s i b i l i t y of f r e s h w a t e r prawn farming

i n Hawaii. Economic Research C e n t e r , U n i v e r s i t y o f Hawaii,
Honolulu, Hawaii. 49 p.

Smitherman, R.O., and D.D. Moss. 1970. F i s h e r i e s survey r e p o r t f o r

Panama I n t e r n a t i o n a l C e n t e r f o r Aquaculture , Auburn Univer-
s i t y , Auburn, Alabama. 64 p.
 38 WORLD MARICULTURE SOCIETY WORKSHOP

LOG LENGTH
I .9 2 .o 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5
1 I 1 I I I I I

2.5-

300
2.3-

2.1 -

I .9- 200
b
I
-
W
2 1.7-
W
0
-I
1.5-
100

l.3-

1.1 -

.9 - 0
I I 1 1 I 1 I I I
80 100 120 140 160 I80200220
LENGTH (MM)

Figure 1. Length - weight relationships of 220 female Macrobrachium

americanum Bate (range 88 - 195 mm) are presented using tho
following equations: Log W = -5.5809 + 3.3836 Log L (linear),
and W = -22.9077 - 0.1721 L1 + .0050 L12 (curvilinear).
 B i o l o g y of Macrobrachiurn 39
LOG LENGTH
1.9 2 .o 2. I 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5
I I 1 I I I I

2.58
2.5-
300

2.3
2 .3-

2.1 -

1.9
1.9, - 200
C
- -
2
-ll
3
t-
$ 1.7'
1.7- I
3
i2
W
>J 3
1.5,
1.5-
100

1.3,
1.3-

1 . 11 '-

.9-
.9' 3
I I 1 I I I 1 1 I

90 100 120 140 160 180 2 0 0 2 2 0 2 4 0

LENGTH (MM)

Figure 2 . Length - weight relationships of 288 male Macrobrachiurn

americanum Bate (range 90 - 233 m m ) a r e presented using the
following equations: Log W = -6.1761 + 3.6655 Log L (linear),
and W = 86.6416 - 2.0063 L 1 + .0124 L I 2 (curvilinear).
 40 WORLD MARICULTURE SOCIETY WORKSHOP
L O G LENGTH
I .9 2.0 2. I 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5
I 1 I i i i i

2.5-

300
2.3-

2.1 -

I .9- 200
k
I
-
t3
w
3 1.7-
c3
0
A
r.5-
100

I.3-

1.1 -

.9- 0
I I 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1
80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220240

Figure 3. Length - weight relationships of the combined population of

536 specimens of Macrobrachium americanum Bate (range 88 -
233 mm) are presented using the following equations: Log W =
-6.1216 + 3.6353 Log L (linear), and W = 139.6919 - 2.6688 L1
+ .0143 LI2 (curvilinear).