The Effects of Limitations on Larval Dispersal in the Red-Jointed Fiddler Crab Populations in a River Dominated Estuary
Stephen Borgianini and Joseph Staton, University of South Carolina Beaufort
18 Apr 2008
Many estuarine species with relatively immobile adult life histories have pelagic larval life stages that increase their dispersal capabilities. Successful recruitment of postlarvae and juveniles back to conspecific adult habitats is dependant upon physiological and developmental constraints on the larvae, biotic interactions, chemical cue recognition/response and variety of physical factors. Using Uca minax (red-jointed fiddler crab) as our model organism we developed and ground-truthed a coupled transport/larval behavior model that is predictive of upstream migration potential of megalopae. We examined the relationship between the potential limitations on the dispersal of U. minax post-larvae and effects these limitations may have on adult distributions and genetic structure along the longitudinal axis of a river-dominated estuary.