Honors Thesis Archive
| Author | Sarah Theisen |
|---|---|
| Title | Seasonal variation in Uca spp. megalopae returning to a North Carolina estuary |
| Department | Biology |
| Advisors | Kathleen Reinsel, James Welch, and Michelle McWhorter |
| Year | 2020 |
| Honors | Departmental Honors |
| Full Text | View Thesis (263 KB) |
| Abstract | Uca spp. larvae leave their adult estuarine habitat on nocturnal spring tides and develop through five zoea larvae stages on the continental shelf. The post larval megalopae then return to settle, using nocturnal flood tide transport after entering the estuary. This study looked at species composition of megalopae in the water column. Uca pugnax was the most common throughout the season, Uca minax and Uca pugilator had lower abundances, with two pulses of Uca pugilator in the early summer. Since larvae are released in patches during spring tides, the peaks in abundance of Uca pugilator could be a result of those individuals remaining in patches to reinvade the estuary. These results were comparable to those of past studies. |
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