Vol. 53 - Alaska Resources Library and Information Services

5.2 Purpose and Scope
The purpose of this section is (1) to both extend and summarize
data sets discussed in the annual report of Armstrong et al. (1981) by
the inclusion of 1981 data now available, and (2) to examine the spatial
patterns of larval distribution and density of the non-Chionoecetes
Brachyura in the southeastern Bering Sea.
This information should allow
a better understanding of where and when larvae of a taxon may be most
susceptible to the detrimental effects of oil and it should extend the
knowledge of a taxon's early life history and ecology.
5.2.1 Taxonomy
Identification of decapod larvae in this section was made to the
taxonomic level listed in the right-hand column of Table 5.3.
Because
of limited literature on larval descriptions of crab species known to
inhabit this region (left-hand column, Table 5.3), only larvae of
Erimacrus isenbeckii and Telmessus cheiragonus were identified to
species.
The literature listed in Table 5.4 was used to identify species
to the lowest possible taxonomic level.
5.2.2 Patterns of Larval Distribution Examined
After all data from the years 1976-1981 were summarized for brachyuran
larvae, they were analyzed to determine the following patterns of
distribution and density:
1) vertical, 2) temporal, and 3) horizontal.
However, certain limitations of the data in this study are evident that
preclude a thorough analysis of these factors for all taxa, because
the plankton samples available are from collections intended for other
uses. Periods and regions from which samples were collected varied
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