Aspects of the Population Dynamics & Biology of the Stone Crab (Menippe mercenaria) in Everglades & Biscayne National Parks as Determined by Trapping
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Material Information

Title:
Aspects of the Population Dynamics & Biology of the Stone Crab (Menippe mercenaria) in Everglades & Biscayne National Parks as Determined by Trapping Report SFRC-86/04
Creator:
South Florida Natural Resources Center/South Florida Research Center, Everglades National Park
T.M. Bert
J. Tilmant
J. Dodrill
G.E. Davis
Place of Publication:
Homestead
Florida
Publisher:
National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
Publication Date:

Notes

Abstract:
Stone crabs (Menippe mercenaria) were trapped on a lunar cycle (full moon) from June 1979 to June 1980 to investigate the population biology and life history of the organism in south Florida marine waters managed by the National Park Service. Seventeen stations, located throughout the coastal regions of Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park, were fished for an entire year. Five additional stations were fished the last nine months of the study. An array of morphometric and biological data was taken on each crab captured. Salinity, temperature, water clarity, principal fouling biota, and bottom type were recorded at each station during sampling. Relative abundance, proportion of females, and number of juveniles were highest in Everglades National Park marine waters from Lostmans River northward. Also, mean size of both sexes was generally smallest in that region. Progressing southward along the Gulf of Mexico and east into Florida Bay, relative abundance of both adults and juveniles decreased, proportion of males increased, and mean size of both sexes became larger. Juveniles were never found at most stations sampled in Florida Bay. Biscayne National Park resembled Florida Bay in number and size of adults, proportion of males, and lack of juveniles. Juvenile distribution and abundance was directly correlated with relative abundance of adults and proportion of females in the trapped population. The primary source of adults in Florida Bay appears to be a very slow movement of crabs from the Gulf of Mexico progressively farther into Florida Bay. The stone crab population in Biscayne National Park may be dispersing from farther north along the Atlantic coast of Florida. ( English )

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
Holding Location:
South Florida Natural Resource Center
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