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Vol. 53 - Alaska Resources Library and Information Services

Vol. 53 - Alaska Resources Library and Information Services

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esults of many research projects have been summarized in workshops<br />

sponsored by OCSEAP at which oil impact scenarios were considered <strong>and</strong><br />

the vulnerability of species gauged. Crab biology was reviewed for the<br />

St. George Basin by Curl <strong>and</strong> Manen (1982), <strong>and</strong> for the North Aleutian<br />

Shelf (NAS) by Armstrong, et al. (1983a).<br />

A notable example of research initiated to better underst<strong>and</strong> the life<br />

history <strong>and</strong> general biology of a species is that recently <strong>and</strong> presently<br />

focused on red king crab along the NAS <strong>and</strong> throughout Bristol Bay.<br />

Despite extensive literature on the species (e.g., Armstrong, et al.<br />

1983b; Reeves <strong>and</strong> Marasco 1980) much is unknown regarding early life<br />

history in the SEBS. Armstrong (1983) listed research needs that<br />

included studies of temporal <strong>and</strong> spatial larval population dynamics,<br />

the relationship of larval hatch <strong>and</strong> transport to female stocks, <strong>and</strong><br />

location of megalopae at metamorphosis <strong>and</strong> substrate types on which<br />

survival of O+ to 1+ juveniles is greatest. Armstrong et al. (1983b)<br />

advanced hypotheses on hatching success <strong>and</strong> larval survival <strong>and</strong> metamorphosis<br />

that stated: 1) much of the female population of the SEBS may<br />

be superfluous to year class success because it occurred over the<br />

central shelf where either larval <strong>and</strong>/or 0+ juvenile survival is very<br />

low; 2) the nearshore area of the NAS is critical for larval growth <strong>and</strong><br />

survival; 3) larvae can be transported great, but variable, distances<br />

during pelagic growth; 4) survival of young benthic instars is probably<br />

very dependent on settlement onto protective "refuge" substrates; <strong>and</strong> 5)<br />

that such substrates (shell, cobble, invertebrate aggregates) are patchy<br />

along the nearshore NAS.<br />

Based on recent work by Armstrong, et al. (1981a, 1983b) <strong>and</strong> research<br />

priorities identified at the 1982 North Aleutian Shelf synthesis meeting<br />

(Armstrong, et al. 1983a), the program discussed in this report was<br />

initiated by OCSEAP in 1983 to provide specific information on early<br />

life-history of red king crab in Bristol Bay.<br />

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