Document Type

Article

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Publication Date

1999

Journal

MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES

Volume

176

First Page

103

Last Page

113

Abstract

I documented the patterns of vertical distribution and abundance of zoeae from 3 families of brachyuran crabs in the York River, a sub-estuary in southern Chesapeake Bay (USA). The family groups included species from Ocypodidae, Pinnotheridae, and Panopeidae. I assessed the effects of Light and tidal current stage on the abundance and vertical distribution of zoeae using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and logistic regression. Clear behavioral patterns were evident in the logistic regression. Ocypodid larvae exhibited tidally timed behavior with larvae nearest the surface during ebb tides. Pinnotherid larval behaviors were correlated with both light and tidal current phase. Larvae were nearest the surface at night and during ebb tides. Panopeid larvae were near the bottom during early flood tides, near mid-depths during late flood and early ebb tides, and nearest the surface during late ebb tides. These behavioral patterns should result in horizontal distributions that are consistent with those observed in previous studies. The ANOVA reflected similar results; however, high variability between replicates weakened the significance of these patterns. The different analyses reflect processes on different spatial and temporal scales. The samples were replicated on short time scales (5 to 10 min). The logistic regression, a categorical analysis, largely ignores the variation between replicates and reflects average behaviors on the scale of several tidal cycles. In contrast, the ANOVA is highly sensitive to the variation between replicates and reflects patterns on scales of minutes. This high variation reflects turbulent vertical mixing and fine-scale horizontal patchiness in larval distribution. Small-scale physical processes that redistribute larvae both vertically and horizontally may have a strong influence on the variability in dispersal and recruitment success.

DOI

10.3354/meps176103

Keywords

vertical migration; zoeae; larval behavior; larval transport

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