NPR : Crab Discovery of Interest to Genetic Scientists
Listen online: June 19, 2005 · Rom Lipscius of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science explains what the discovery of Jerry Springer the crab -- which marine biologists call a "bilateral gynandromorph" -- means for the study of blue crab genetics.
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Getting to know you - blue crabs National Wildlife - Find Articles
Getting to know you - blue crabs National Wildlife - Find Articles
"...Observing behavior of untethered crabs in the wild is nearly impossible. Swift swimmers, crabs flee if they detect motion or any hint of approaching danger. Consequently, at VIMS, part of The College of William and Mary and the nation's foremost center for estuarine research, exploration of blue-crab ecology often occurs in the GEM (for Glucksman Experimental Mesocosm) Lab. Two huge tanks filled with sand and water from the nearby York River are stages where crabs interact with prey or predators for days at a time under the unblinking gaze of computer-controlled video cameras and in dim infrared light that simulates the nocturnal conditions in which blue crabs do much of their foraging..."
"...Observing behavior of untethered crabs in the wild is nearly impossible. Swift swimmers, crabs flee if they detect motion or any hint of approaching danger. Consequently, at VIMS, part of The College of William and Mary and the nation's foremost center for estuarine research, exploration of blue-crab ecology often occurs in the GEM (for Glucksman Experimental Mesocosm) Lab. Two huge tanks filled with sand and water from the nearby York River are stages where crabs interact with prey or predators for days at a time under the unblinking gaze of computer-controlled video cameras and in dim infrared light that simulates the nocturnal conditions in which blue crabs do much of their foraging..."
Benthic Environments VII: Shallow-Water Habitats Posters - Ocean Sciences [OS]
Benthic Environments VII: Shallow-Water Habitats Posters - Ocean Sciences [OS]: "The Importance of Benthic Macro-algae (Gracilaria) as a Refuge Habitat for Juvenile Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus
* Falls, J A (jfalls@vims.edu) , William & Mary Virginia Institute of Marine Science, P.O. Box 1346 Rt. 1208 Greate Road, Gloucester Point, VA 23062 United States
Seid, C (gs04@vims.ed) , Thomas Jefferson High School fo Science and Technology, 6560 Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA 22312 United States
Lipcius, R (rom@vims.edu) , William & Mary Virginia Institute of Marine Science, P.O. Box 1346 Rt. 1208 Greate Road, Gloucester Point, VA 23062 United States
The availability of nursery habitats for juvenile blue crabs is important to population persistence. Prior studies have shown the importance of sea grass, shallow mud flats, and marshes as nurseries for blue crab recruits. The importance of benthic macro-algae like Gracilaria has not been previously demonstrated. In summer 2005, a mesocosm predation study was used to compare the mortality of free and tethered juvenile crabs in contained mudflat and macro-algal systems. Juvenile crabs (12mm-21 mm carapace width) were placed in these systems with larger blue crabs (80mm-140 mm carapace width) as predators. The tanks were checked once or twice daily and the survival time in hours was recorded. In addition, suction sampling was used to compare juvenile crab abundance between mudflat and macro-algal habitats in the field. The results indicate that crabs survive longer in habitats with macro-algal nursery habitat, which may therefore be a critical nursery habitat. The field comparison is continuing and will be completed fall 2005. "
* Falls, J A (jfalls@vims.edu) , William & Mary Virginia Institute of Marine Science, P.O. Box 1346 Rt. 1208 Greate Road, Gloucester Point, VA 23062 United States
Seid, C (gs04@vims.ed) , Thomas Jefferson High School fo Science and Technology, 6560 Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA 22312 United States
Lipcius, R (rom@vims.edu) , William & Mary Virginia Institute of Marine Science, P.O. Box 1346 Rt. 1208 Greate Road, Gloucester Point, VA 23062 United States
The availability of nursery habitats for juvenile blue crabs is important to population persistence. Prior studies have shown the importance of sea grass, shallow mud flats, and marshes as nurseries for blue crab recruits. The importance of benthic macro-algae like Gracilaria has not been previously demonstrated. In summer 2005, a mesocosm predation study was used to compare the mortality of free and tethered juvenile crabs in contained mudflat and macro-algal systems. Juvenile crabs (12mm-21 mm carapace width) were placed in these systems with larger blue crabs (80mm-140 mm carapace width) as predators. The tanks were checked once or twice daily and the survival time in hours was recorded. In addition, suction sampling was used to compare juvenile crab abundance between mudflat and macro-algal habitats in the field. The results indicate that crabs survive longer in habitats with macro-algal nursery habitat, which may therefore be a critical nursery habitat. The field comparison is continuing and will be completed fall 2005. "
Blue Crab Life Cycle Article
from Virginia Coastal Management magazine, by Dr. "Lipscious" ... pp. 12-14
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