Gonadal development, spawning, growth and survival of the crayfish Procambarus llamasi at three different water temperatures Claudia Carmona-Osalde a, * , Miguel Rodriguez-Serna b,1 , Miguel A. Olvera-Novoa a , Pedro Joaquin Gutierrez-Yurrita c,2 a Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Unidad Me ´rida (CINVESTAV), Centro de Investigacio ´n y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, A.P. 73 Cordemex, 97310 Me ´rida, Yucata ´n, Mexico b Laboratorio de Ecologı ´a y Biologı ´a Marina Experimental, Ecologı ´a y Recursos Naturales, Departamento de Biologı ´a, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Auto ´noma de Me ´xico (UNAM), Calle 26 #1 Playa Norte, A.P. 69 24140 Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico c Laboratorio de Zoologı ´a, Licenciatura en Biologı ´a, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Auto ´noma de Quere ´taro (UAQ), Centro Universitario s/n, Cerro de las Campanas, 76010 Quere ´taro, Quere ´taro, Mexico Received 10 February 2003; received in revised form 27 June 2003; accepted 1 July 2003 Abstract A study was done of the effect of three water temperatures (16, 21 and 26 jC) on the growth, survival, gonad development and spawning rates of Procambarus llamasi during a 90-day trial. Juveniles (<40 mm total length) were stocked at 76 org/m 2 density, and at a 1:1 M/F ratio. Growth improved in all treatments with increasing temperature, showing significant differences between sexes. Males grew more than females and achieved larger sizes with statistical differences ( p<0.05) between treatments. Survival rate exhibited a negative relationship to temperature, with significant differences ( p<0.05) between the 16 jC treatment and the others, but not between the 21 and 26 jC. Survival rate decreased from 90% at 16 jC to 42% at 26 jC. Ovary development increased as temperature increased. The gonadosomatic and maturation indexes were significantly different ( p<0.05) between the 16 jC treatment and the others, but not 0044-8486/$ - see front matter D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/S0044-8486(03)00527-1 * Corresponding author. Tel.: +52-999-981-2903x518; fax: +52-999-981-2334. E-mail addresses: carmona@mda.cinvestav.mx (C. Carmona-Osalde), mrs@fciencias.unam.mx (M. Rodriguez-Serna), yurrita@uaq.mx (P.J. Gutierrez-Yurrita). 1 Tel./fax: +52-938-382-8730. 2 Tel.: +52-442-215-4777x106. www.elsevier.com/locate/aqua-online Aquaculture 232 (2004) 305 – 316