Effects of temperature and photoperiod on hemolymph vitellogenin levels during spawning events of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, in captivity

Vitellogenesis is the process of production and uptake of vitellogenin (VtG), the precursor of vitellin (VT = yolk protein), for ovarian development. In Callinectes sapidus, hemolymph VtG levels are positively correlated with ovarian development. We aimed to develop an invasive tool to monitor ovarian development in order to predict spawning. The present study determined the effects of photoperiod and temperature conditions on levels of hemolymph VtG of the females in captivity kept in a closed recirculating system. Hemolymph VtG levels measured using a competitive ELISA correlates positively with temperature (21° versus 11°C) but are negatively correlated with photoperiod (0L:24D and 8L:16D versus 16L:8D and 24L:0D). Also, heavier (larger) females contain more VtG in their hemolymph and produce greater numbers of larvae. At 21°C, the VtG levels show high individual variations and continuously change over time, indicating that VtG production and uptake by ovary may be continuous and dynamic over multiple spawning events in C. sapidus. Microsatellite analysis of these females reveals a great diversity within and between the batches, implying that resident C. sapidus populations in the Chesapeake Bay are genetically dynamic. Such a great genetic diversity could be responsible for the high variation in VtG levels in these females.