Abstract Intermediate metabolism and oxidative balance markers help to better understand environmental dynamics and how they influence the physiological patterns of organisms. Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852), a crayfish native to the United States of America and Mexico, represents an appealing case study for understanding invasive species’ metabolic dynamics. This species has sexual dimorphism and two male morphotypes: reproductive (M1) and non-reproductive (M2). We evaluated the seasonal variations of biomarkers in M1 and M2 males, collected in each season of 2016 at Parque Alfredo Volpi (São Paulo, Brazil). Hemolymph, hepatopancreas and abdominal muscle samples were extracted to determine markers of intermediate metabolism, oxidative balance, the hepatosomatic index and the stomach repletion degree. The results showed differences between the two male morphotypes. M1 showed a predominance of medium to full stomachs throughout the year, with an allocation of energetic substrates mainly used in reproduction (gametogenesis and reproductive behaviors). They also presented increased lipoperoxidation, SOD and GST activities. M2, on the other hand, had a lower capacity to allocate energy reserves in the period leading up to and during reproduction, which may be associated with a lower degree of gastric repletion. However, M2 maintained alternating antioxidant strategies that helped preserve low levels of lipoperoxidation in the hepatopancreas throughout the year. This pattern observed for the degree of gastric repletion indicates an intraspecific competition between the categories of males, which, together with the profile of energy reserve usage, seems decisive for M2 to reproduce. organisms Girard, Girard (Girard 1852, 1852 , 1852) Mexico morphotypes M (M1 nonreproductive non M2. . (M2) males 201 São Paulo Brazil. Brazil Brazil) Hemolymph year gametogenesis behaviors. behaviors behaviors) activities hand However usage reproduce 185 (M (M2 20 18 2 1

O desenvolvimento das gônadas de uma espécie pode ser avaliado pela determinação do índice gonadossomático e hepatossomático. O hepatopâncreas é o maior centro de reservas em decápodos e essas reservas podem ser transferidas para as gônadas durante o seu desenvolvimento. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar, no lagostim Parastacus varicosus Faxon, 1898, o desenvolvimento das gônadas, por meio de observações macro e microscópicas, além de determinar a variação dos índices gonadossomático e hepatossomático. Os lagostins foram amostrados na bacia hidrográfica do rio Gravataí, localidade Cova do Touro, Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. As gônadas das fêmeas foram pesadas para a determinação do índice gonadossomático e para análise histológica. O peso do hepatopâncreas também foi obtido para a determinação do índice hepatossomático. Os resultados mostraram uma diminuição do índice hepatossomático e um aumento do índice gonadossomático das fêmeas, no período de passagem da primavera para o verão, o que sugere uma possível transferência das reservas do hepatopâncreas para a gônada no período reprodutivo. No entanto, considerando que essa diminuição não foi significativa ao nível de 0,05, sugere-se que outros tecidos e/ou a hemolinfa possam estar contribuindo com a transferência de suas reservas.

The level of gonadal development of a species can be evaluated by the determination of the gonadossomatic (GSI) and the hepatossomatic (HSP) indices. The hepatopancreas is the most important centre for storage of reserves in decapods, which can be transferred to the gonads during their development. The aim of this study was to estimate gonadal development of Parastacus varicosus Faxon, 1898 by means of macro and microscopic observations, as well by the inspection of the variations of gonadossomatic and hepatossomatic indices. The crayfishes were collected in the Gravataí hydrographic basin, Cova do Touro locality, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Female's gonads were weighted for the recognition of the gonadossomatic index and histological analysis. Hepatopancreas weight was also obtained to determine the hepatossomatic index. The results showed a decrease of the hepatossomatic index and an increase of the gonadossomatic index in females during the seasonal transition period from spring to summer, suggesting a possible transfer of the hepatopancreatic reserves to the gonads during the reproductive period. However, considering that this decrease did not show significance at p>0.05 level, it is likely that other tissues contribute for this transfer, as hemolymph, for instance.