Patterns of Diurnal Vertical Distribution and Dispersal-Recruitment Mechanisms of Decapod Crustacean Larvae and Postlarvae in the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia and Adjacent Offshore Waters

<p>Larval dispersal and subsequent postlarval recruitment are extremely significant processes affecting the maintenance of ecologically and economically important populations of decapod crustaceans. Vertical positioning in the water column plays a major role in the particular strategies of retention or expulsion with immigration.</p> <p>The present study was undertaken to investigate variations in vertical distribution according to temporal (diurnal), spatial (estuarine, transition, oceanic), ontogenetic (larval stages, postlarvae) and various environmental factors (especially light, temperature, salinity and tides). Also, effects of vertical positioning on dispersal-recruitment were examined.</p> <p>Three stations were established for the present study: York River mouth (estuarine) (37°12'N, 76°16'W); Chesapeake Bay mouth (transition) (36°8'N, 76°07'W); Chesapeake Light Tower (offshore) (35°54'N, 75°3'W). Each station was occupied for a continuous 72 hour period in late summer, and quantitative plankton samples were taken every three hours from the following depths: neuston (0.10-0.15 m), 1 m, 3 m, 6 m, epibenthic (10.7-12.8 m).</p> <p>A total of 41 species, 160 developmental stages and an estimated 6,000,000 specimens were obtained. The most commonly collected species were Callinectes sapidus (87.40% of the total), Uca spp. (3.45%), and Pinnixa chaetopterana (1.74%).</p> <p>Results indicated that proximity to the estuary greatly affects vertical positioning. Light was proposed to be the major factor affecting distribution, with temperature, salinity and tidal cycles having little effect.</p> <p>Six dispersal-recruitment patterns were established for collected genera based on vertical and spatial distributions of larvae and postlarvae compared with adult habitats: retained estuarine (Neopanope, Palaemonetes, Panopeus), retained estuarine-transitional (Callinassa, Pinnixa, Pinnotheres, Upogebia), retained transitional-nearshore (Euceramus, Hexapanopeus, Pagurus), retained offshore (Emerita, Libinia, Ovalipes), expelled with estuarine spawning (Uca) and expelled with transitional spawning (Callinectes).</p> <p>Hypothesized dispersal-recruitment mechanisms included: maintenance at a given depth without diurnal vertical migration, active vertical migration to a depth of zero net motion, and varying degrees of vertical migration throughout the water column.</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

1986

Author dc:creator

• Maris, Robert Copeland

Contributors dc:contributor

• John R. McConaugha
• Anthony J. Provenzano, Jr.
• David L. Feigenbaum
• Michael H. Prager
• Charles E. Epifanio

• Chesapeake Bay
• Decapod
• Crustacean larvae
• 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/142

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.odu.edu:oeas_etds-1141