The growth of the crab Goniospis cruentata (Latreille. 1803), was studied in the laboratory, through of the molt increment and intermolt period. A total of 86 crabs (48 males and 38 females) were collected in the ltacuruçá's Mangrove in Mangaratiba's county. Rio de Janeiro. The crabs were maintened in the laboratory in four 1000 l tanks, with continuous water circulation during fifteen months. They were fed each two days with pieces of fish and fruits. The crabs varied in size from 19.3 to 56.0 mm in males and 23.3 to 48.8 mm in females. The males presented until four molts during the experiment and the females until six molts. The molts oceurred during ali the months. The mean percentage of molt increment was 6.1 ± 2.7%, for both sexes and it decreased with the animal growth. The relation between the molt increment and the carapace width can be expressed by the equation IM = -0.32LC + 18.26 (r = -0.82). This relation didn't show any significative difference between the sexes. The mean intermolt period was of 87.6 + 37.3 days in male crabs and 97.3 ± 27.6 days in females. The growth was contiguous, through successive molts, although the increment was reduced with animal size. The intermolt period was proportional to the animal size increase, however males with autotomy of limbs had the intermolt period reduced.

The objective of this study was to get some knowledge about the reproductive aspects of Goniopsis cruentata (Latreille, 1803), concerning through sex ratio, morphological sexual maturity, reproductive period, fecundity and eggs size. The crabs were collected monthly in Itacuruçá's Mangroves from November, 1997 to November, 1998. Four hundred and seven crabs were caught and they were 47% males, 36% females and 17% ovigerous females. The sex ratio was 1:1.13 (male:female) (X²= 1.54, p > 0.05). The relation of abdomen width (AW) and carapace width (CW) in females showed a positive allometric grow (b = 1.36), it suggests the size onset of maturity occur from 26.0 a 29.0 mm (CW) in females. The ovigerous females occured during all the research period, except for the winter months (June to August). The size of these ovigerous females varied from 26.0 to 48.8 mm with mean size 35.1 + 5.2 mm. Individual fecundity varied from 29,975 to 142,050 eggs and mean fecundity was 74,751 ± 27 eggs. The mean diameter of the eggs was 300 ± 20 µm.

ABSTRACT The study of land reclamation is now intensive in Brazil, mainly in relation to the rehabilitation process. Usually, the methodology utilised are based in theory and combine different aspects: environment response and philosophical point of view from different work groups. Then, the environment results obtained are diverse and difficult to be compared. The subject of this study is to suggest new ways to evaluate the conservation efficacy of a variable used in land reclamation projects. We suggest the utilisation of a spontaneous emergence of plants, as a biological indicator in the environmental recovery of degraded area. The idea was constructed with results obtained in a land reclamation area since 1993, in which an average of 13m of soil profile was removed.

RESUMO A recuperação de áreas degradadas encontra-se em fase de grande prosperidade tecnológica no país, principalmente no que concerne às medidas de reabiliatação. As metodologias utilizadas adotam postulados teóricos, que combinam aspectos, que vão desde as necessidades ambientais das áreas até linhas filosóficas adquiridas nas diferentes escolas de formação acadêmica. Os resultados ambientais são diversos e de difícil comparação. A proposta deste estudo é sugerir formas de avaliação da eficácia conservacionista das medidas mitigadoras de impactos ambientais, utilizando o aparecimento espontâneo de plantas, como um parâmetro bio-indicador do processo de recuperação ambiental de uma área degradada. A idéia foi construída sobre resultados obtidos em área degradada, cujo decapeamento médio foi de 13m, que vem sendo recuperada desde 1993.