A Comparison of Recruitment Strategies Among Brachyuran Crustacean Megalopae of the York River, Lower Chesapeake Bay and Adjacent Shelf Waters

<p>Twenty-one stations forming a transect of the Pamunkey River, York River, lower Chesapeake Bay and adjacent coastal waters were sampled from July through September 1980. The megalopa stages of 11 brachyuran species were sampled. Vertical and horizontal distributions are described for each species in relation to salinity and water column stratification. The megalopae are assigned to three apparent recruitment strategies: retained estuarine, expelled estuarine and retained coastal megalopae. the megalopa stages of estuarine adults, such as <em>Hexapanopeus angustifrons</em>, <em>Neopanope sayi, Panopeus herbstii</em> and <em>Pinnotheres</em> <em>ostreum,</em> are retained in estuarine epibenthic waters, while <em>Rhithropanopeus</em> <em>harrisii</em> are retained in slightly shallower estuarine waters. The larvae of some estuarine species such as <em>Callinectes sapidus</em>, <em>Uca</em> spp.<em> and Pinnixa</em> sp., are expelled from the estuary, resulting in maximum megalopal abundances on the shelf. Differences in vertical distribution, distance from the bay entrance and the proportion of the catch within the estuary suggest the megalopa is important in reinvasion of the estuary for Uca spp. and <em>Pinnixa</em> sp., but facultatively reinvasive for <em>Callinectes sapidus</em>. Two shelf species,<em> Portunus</em> sp. and <em>Cancer irroratus</em> are most abundant in the neuston of shelf waters and thus their dispersal to the estuary is impeded.</p> <p>Another shelf form <em>Libinia</em> spp., is commonly found as an adult in the lower Chesapeake Bay. Although their megalopae are most common in the epibenthos on the shelf, 9% are found in the bay.</p> <p>All megalopae displayed a strong tendency to be distributed either above or below a pycnocline, when present. Five species show significant shifts in vertical distribution between stratified and homogeneous water columns. No evidence of decreased dispersal is found for increasingly estuarine species.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Ocean & Earth Sciences

Year dc:date.available

1982

Author dc:creator

• Johnson, David Franklin

Contributors dc:contributor

• Anthony J. Provenzano, Jr.
• John McConaugha
• Phil Mundy
• Ronald E. Johnson
• Ray Alden

• Lower Chesapeake Bay
• York River
• Shelf waters
• Megalopae
• Retention
• Marine Biology
• Oceanography

Statement dc:rights

• <p>In Copyright. URI: <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).</p>

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/oeas_etds/86

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.odu.edu:oeas_etds-1086