ESTIMATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL GROWTH PARAMETERS OF THE BROWN CRAB CALLINECTES BELLICOSUS (BRACHYURA, PORTUNIDAE) USING A MULTI-MODEL APPROACH

This study describes the growth parameters of Callinectes bellicosus based on samples from a coastal lagoon in the southern Gulf of California. A multi-model inference (MMI) approach is used for both sexes. The candidate models assessed were the Von Bertalanffy (VBGM), Gompertz, Logistic, and Schnute growth models. The criterion used to select the best models was the Akaike information criterion (AIC). The best models fitted were the Schnute model for males and the VBGM for females. The asymptotic carapace width (CW) in males, averaged according to the MMI principle, was 155.38 mm in males and 125.53 mm in females. This difference resulted from the females' terminal moult to maturity. In females, no further growth occurs after this moult, whereas males continue to grow. The results of this study show that the use of an MMI approach is important because it can produce an improved description of the growth of crustaceans, such as Callinectes species, that exhibit this particular difference between the sexes.