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Settlement of brachyuran megalopae in Delaware Bay:an analysis of time series data

1995; Inter-Research; Volume: 125; Linguagem: Inglês

10.3354/meps125067

1616-1599

MB Jones, CE Epifanio,

Marine Biology and Ecology Research

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 125:67-76 (1995) - doi:10.3354/meps125067 Settlement of brachyuran megalopae in Delaware Bay: an analysis of time series data Jones MB, Epifanio CE Crab megalopae were collected daily in a secondary estuary near the mouth of Delaware Bay during 4 annual settlement seasons (1989 to 1992). The sampling site consisted of a raft from which 4 replicate collectors were deployed vertically at the water column surface. Each replicate collector was constructed from a segment of 20 cm diameter PVC pipe. The pipe was covered with a removable sheath of loosely interwoven strands of polypropylene upon which the megalopae settled. We assumed that settlement on the collectors was proportional to settlement on natural substrata near the sampling site each day. The 3 families Ocypodidae (Uca spp.), Portunidae (Callinectes sapidus), and Xanthidae comprised the vast majority of the megalopae collected. Daily settlement events occurred in clusters. Auto-correlation analysis showed decorrelation times ranging from 2 to 3 d for C. sapidus and from 1 to 2 d for xanthids and Uca spp. These define the durations of typical settlement episodes for each taxon. Xanthids and Uca spp. began to settle in mid summer and continued into early autumn. Major settlement of C. sapidus never occurred until late August, and the intensity of settlement usually decreased by late October. Results of G-tests showed no effect of lunar phase on settlement events, regardless of year or taxon. Likewise, binomial goodness-of-fit tests showed no significant effect of the spring/neap cycle on settlement. However, the observed frequency of settlement events for C. sapidus was significantly greater than expected for southward wind events in all 4 yr, while there was no consistent association between winds and settlement of Uca spp. or xanthids. Of the 3 taxa studied, only C. sapidus relies on wind-driven processes for transport to settlement sites. Transport of C. sapidus megalopae back into the estuary requires the coincident occurrence of a southward, alongshore wind event and a nearby patch of megalopae. The stochastic nature of this co-occurrence explains the observed temporal variations in settlement of C. sapidus in the estuary. Recruitment . Larval transport . Wind-driven . Megalopae . Crabs Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 125. Publication date: September 14, 1995 Print ISSN:0171-8630; Online ISSN:1616-1599 Copyright © 1995 Inter-Research.