Of the 920 specimens caught males LDK378 supplier and females respectively comprised 44 and 40% of the entire population (sex ratio 1.1:1), whereas juveniles (< 4.4 mm carapace width) made up 16% (n = 150).

The lowest number of specimens was collected in 2006 (n = 39) and the highest number in 2010 (n = 317). 55 females were ovigerous, (15% of the total number of females collected) and all were collected between June and October. The carapace width (CW) of all 920 R. harrisii individuals ranged from 1.96 to 21.40 mm (mean 9.03 ± 4.11 mm). There was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) in CW between females (range 4.41–19.41 mm; mean 10.17 ± 3.15 mm; n = 370) and males (4.41–21.40 mm; mean 9.90±3.97 mm; n = 400). Most of the adult crabs (n = 158) belonged to CW class 10.1–12.0 mm. Most females (40%; n = 147) were between 8.1–10.0 mm CW, while most males (33%; n = 303) were between 4.5 and 12.0 mm CW. Few males from the largest Compound Library research buy size classes were collected (18.1–22.0 mm

CW), and only males attained CW larger than 20.1 mm ( Figure 2). The carapaces of the Harris mud crabs collected in the Gulf of Gdańsk were broader than they were long, showing isometric growth as described by the function log CL = –0.0325 + 0.9418 log CW (R2 = 0.98). Comparison of the relationships between carapace width and length in juveniles, females and males indicated a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between juvenile and adult specimens ( Figure 3). The CL:CW ratio was equal to 1: 1.19 ± 0.06 in juveniles and 1: 1.22 ± 0.07 in both males and females. Both males (91.5%) and females (97.7%) exhibited right claw dominance. Major chela length was significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with CW in males (R2 = 0.97) and females (R2 = 0.95, Figure 4). Males had significantly (p < 0.05) longer chela than females of the same CW. Moreover, both females and males showed positive allometric growth when major

chela length Rho (CHL) was compared to CW ( Figure 4). The CHL:CW ratio amounted, on average, to 1: 1.59 ± 0.20 in females and 1: 1.50 ± 0.20 in males. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between chela length (CHL) and height (CHH) in females and males of R. harrisii. The growth of the major chela can be described by the function log CHL = -0.3856 + 1.096 log CHH (R2 = 0.94). The CHH: CHL ratio in both sexes was 1:2.08 ± 0.30. The wet weight of R. harrisii ranged between 0.005 and 4.446 g (average 0.410 ± 0.569 g; n = 920). Juvenile wet weight was from 0.005 to 0.065 g (mean 0.027 ± 0.010 g; n = 97), while females and males were heavier, as expected (females: range 0.027–2.395 g, mean 0.472 ± 0.438 g, n = 276; males: range 0.029–4.446 g, mean 0.531 ±0.711 g, n = 325). Individual wet weight was significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with CW of females (R2 = 0.93, n = 276) and males (R2 = 0.98, n = 325).