Resumen

CAPISTRAN-BARRADAS, Ascención; DEFEO, Omar  y  MORENO-CASASOLA, Patricia. Density and population structure of the red land crab gecarcinus lateralis in a tropical semi-deciduous forest in veracruz, mexico. INCI [online]. 2003, vol.28, n.6, pp.323-327. ISSN 0378-1844.

The variation in density and population structure of the land crab Gecarcinus lateralis (Gecarcinidae) was studied in a tropical semi-deciduous forest on the coast of Veracruz, Mexico. Crab density changed as a function of forest type (old or young), forest cover (understorey or gap), and year (1997 and 1998). In 1997, crab density was similar between old forest (OF) and young forest (YF), gaps and understorey, and between floor topographies. However, in 1998, crab density was higher in OF as compared to YF, and understorey in relation to gaps. For both years, crab density in the understorey of valleys and peaks was higher than in gaps. The population age structure of G. lateralis (as determined by burrow size) also varied as a function of forest age, floor topography, and forest cover. For both years, bigger crabs were found in YF than in OF, in valleys and slopes relative to peaks, and in the understorey as opposed to gaps. Forest variations in soil characteristics (humidity, amount of leaf litter and compaction) are invoked as explanatory variables for the observed differences in density and population structure of G. lateralis

Palabras clave : Density ; Floor Topography ; Forest Age ; Population Structure ; Gecarcinus lateralis .