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Vol. 53 - Alaska Resources Library and Information Services

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1967) to 11 molts (Weber 1967). The differences in growth rate induced<br />

by changes in the early molting frequency data on young crab are great;<br />

therefore, it is important to obtain accurate molting frequency data on<br />

young crabs.<br />

The September 1983 sampling demonstrated an absense of larvae in the<br />

zooplankton samples <strong>and</strong> a dominance of YOY individuals. This reflects<br />

recent (2-4 weeks earlier) mass metamorphosis of larvae into benthicdwelling<br />

juveniles. Although most first post-larvae appear in the<br />

southeastern Bering Sea from mid-July through mid-August, minor settlement<br />

occurs before <strong>and</strong> after this time. The few 0+ (4-6 mm) in the<br />

April-May <strong>and</strong> June sampling are presumably individuals that had settled<br />

late, in August or September 1982. A late hatching cohort would most<br />

likely lead to settlement as cold bottom water temperatures begin <strong>and</strong><br />

thus growth to 4-6 mm by the following spring might be expected.<br />

Relatively moderate numbers of age 1 <strong>and</strong> 1+ crabs were found during the<br />

April-May <strong>and</strong> June cruises; somewhat greater numbers of these age groups<br />

were found during September, indicating recruitment from the 1982 YOY<br />

group. The very low numbers of age 2 <strong>and</strong> 2+ crabs in the samples may be<br />

explained by the highly clumped distribution resulting from podding<br />

behavior. Apparently crabs younger than approximately age 2 (

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