Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1980

Publication Title

Fishery Bulletin

Volume

78

Issue

3

Pages

693-700

Abstract

Larvae of Squilla empusa were collected from the plankton and were laboratory-reared in 16 combinations of temperature and salinity to determine their tolerances. Larvae survived longer and molted more frequently when reared at 25%, and 20° or 25° C, which corresponds to the natural conditions of Chesapeake Bay when the larvae were collected.

A 2 year planktonic survey conducted in the lower region of the bay by the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences was compared with a survey made at the bay mouth in 1976. The seasonal occurrence of Squilla empusa larvae extended from the last week of July until the first week of October with a peak abundance occurring about the first week of September. The peak abundance in the lower region of the bay was 0.37 larva/m3 in 1971 and 0.59 larva/m3 in 1972. Four of the nine stages were not captured.Collections taken at the bay mouth in 1976 with a 1/2 m net captured all stages and the peak abundance was determined to be 0.27 larva/m3. The larvae were more abundant in the higher salinity waters of the channel areas and eastern portion of lower Chesapeake Bay. A large-mouth plankton net with relatively coarse mesh should be towed at night to ensure the collection of all larval stages since the larger larvae are apparently able to avoid small nets.

Original Publication Citation

Morgan, S. G. (1980). Aspects of larval ecology of Squilla-empusa (Crustacea, Stomatopoda) in Chesapeake Bay. Fishery Bulletin, 78(3), 693-700.

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