Population characteristics of the prawn Palaemon serratus (Decapoda, Palaemonidae) in a shallow Mediterranean Bay

Life-history traits of the prawn Palaemon serratus were studied in shallow seagrass meadows in the Alfacs Bay (Ebro delta, western Mediterranean) from October 1989 to March 1992. Sexual differences related to length-weight were noted. Monthly catch per unit effort (CPUE) from the trawl surveys showed that abundances of P. serratus are markedly seasonal, with peaks in late summer and autumn, and lows in winter and spring. The reproductive cycle of Palaemon serratus starts in late autumn when females with maturing ovaries appear. Nevertheless, the low percentage of ovigerous females found in the study area in winter suggests that the reproduction and incubation processes do not occur in a shallow seagrass meadow habitat. Population traits of P. serratus are compared with those of other sympatric palaemonids (P. adspersus and P. xiphias).