Abundance and Distribution of Early Life Stage Blue Crabs (Callinectes sapidus) in Lake Pontchartrain

I conducted a 12-month study of near-shore habitats in Lake Pontchartrain to assess spatiotemporal variation in the abundance of early life stage blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus). Collections were made using a 1 m2 throw trap and data showed that C. sapidus numbers varied over time and among sites. Two recruitment events occurred during the study. During the first recruitment in May-June, C. sapidus entered Lake Pontchartrain via the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal. In September-October, C. sapidus entered the Lake Pontchartrain via the Rigolets and Chef passes. My data suggest that C. sapidus utilize water circulation within the Lake Pontchartrain as a means of transportation throughout the estuary. MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 250 m data were analyzed to gain a large-scale view of suspended sediments patterns within Lake Pontchartrain and quantify water movement. Field sampling along with remote sensing proved to be beneficial when assessing estuarine-wide C. sapidus post-larval dispersal processes.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biological Sciences

Year

2008

Author dc:creator

• Lyncker, Lissa

Contributors dc:contributor

• Cashner, Robert C.
• O'Connell, Martin
• Jordan, Frank

• Callinectes sapidus
• blue crab
• crab migration
• crab transport
• Callinectes sapidus transport
• nursery habitat
• dispersal
• post-larval dispersal
• post-settlement dispersal
• recruitment
• SAV
• Lake Pontchartrain
• mass water movement
• remote sensing
• MODIS 250 m data
• MODIS 250 m satellite images
• estuarine dependent species
• suspended sediment

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/848

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.uno.edu:td-1828