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Vol. 53 - Alaska Resources Library and Information Services

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assumes a relatively homogeneous distribution of C. bairdi larvae in the<br />

outer shelf since advection over this time period is not considered.<br />

No<br />

C. opilio larvae were collected in October of 1980, but this may have<br />

been due to low larval abundance for this species in 1980 in most of the<br />

area of our plankton studies.<br />

Examination of the stomach contents of yellow fin sole (Lim<strong>and</strong>a<br />

aspera) collected at 57 0 09'N Lat., 166°39'W Long. on 9 September 1980<br />

indicated that settlement of C. opilio larvae <strong>and</strong> metamorphosis to first<br />

instar crab had begun by that date, but that substantial numbers of megalops<br />

larvae remained, presumably somewhere in the water column.<br />

[The<br />

stomachs of small sole (20 cm length) which contained the megalops contained<br />

no organisms of benthic origin at the time of sampling.<br />

Stomachs<br />

of larger sole (24-69 cm length) contained first instar C. opilio.<br />

Unpublished data are from K. Haflinger, University of <strong>Alaska</strong>.] These<br />

data indicate the beginning of settlement of C. opilio larvae to the<br />

benthos, but provide no insight into the duration of this transition.<br />

According to observations in Japanese waters, there may be considerable<br />

variation in the duration of this stage, since megalops larvae were<br />

observed in the plankton up to six months after their initial appearance<br />

(Fukataki 1969).<br />

Prolongation of the megalops stage in Japanese waters<br />

was also indicated by examination of the stomach contents of salmonid<br />

(Fukataki 1965, 1969) <strong>and</strong> zoarcid (Ito 1970) fish.<br />

A review of estimates<br />

of the duration of the larval stages of Chionoecetes spp. from<br />

other environments is provided by Adams (1979:78).<br />

620

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