Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Latitudinal variation in the Dungeness crab, Cancer magister: zoeal morphology explained by incubation temperature

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The difference in morphology between zoeae of Cancer magister Dana from Alaskan and Californian waters was documented to determine if the morphological variation is attributable to environmental influences. First-stage zoeae from Alaska have significantly longer carapace spines than zoeae from central California. The dorsal, rostral and lateral carapace spines were 14, 14 and 29% longer, respectively, in the Alaskan zoeae. The effect of temperature was tested on zoeal morphology as it is an obvious environmental difference between Alaskan and Californian waters. Ovigerous female crabs collected in southeastern Alaska in 1984 were held at 1°, 5°, 10° and 15° C until hatching occurred. Eggs were sampled seven times during the incubation period, and relative mortality, egg diameter and development stage were measured. All of the crabs and eggs at 1° C died before hatching occurred. Egg mortality averaged less than 2% in the other temperature treatments. Egg diameter increased significantly over the incubation period for all temperatures. Developmental rate of the embryos was inversely related to temperature. Hatching first occurred in 42 d at 15° C, 60 at 10° C and 160 d at 5° C. Newly hatched zoeae were collected and body length, dorsal, rostral and lateral carapace spines were measured. Significant differences existed between all temperatures for all spine lengths, with longer spines occurring at lower temperatures. Zoeal body lengths were also significantly different between the three temperatures. The results of this study question the use of spine lengths to distinguish similar larval species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Ally, J. R. R.: Description of the laboratory-reared larvae of Cancer gracilis Dana, 1852 (Decapoda, Brachyura). Crustaceana 28, 231–246 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, W. R.: A description of laboratory-reared larvae of the yellow crab, Cancer anthonyi Rathbun (Decapoda, Brachyura), and comparisons with larvae of Cancer magister Dana and Cancer productus Randall. Crustaceana 34, 56–68 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Anger, K., R. R. Dawirs, V. Anger, J. W. Goy and J. D. Costlow: Starvation resistance in first stage zoeae of brachyuran crabs in relation to temperature. J. Crustacean Biol. (Lawrence, Kansas) 1, 518–525 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong, D. A., L. S. Incze, D. L. Wencker and J. L. Armstrong: Distribution and abundance of decapod crustacean larvae in the southeastern bering Sea with emphasis on commercial species. NOAA Office mar. Pollut. Assessmt OCSEAP Rep. Proj. No. NA81-RAC-00059, 1–388 (1983)

  • Austin, W. C.: An annotated checlist of marine invertebrates in the cold temperate Northeast Pacific, 682 pp. Cowitchan Bay, British Columbia: Khoyatan Marine Laboratory 1985

    Google Scholar 

  • Barr, L. and N. Barr: Under Alaskan seas, 208 pp. Anchorage, Alaska: Alaska Northwest Publishing Co. 1983

    Google Scholar 

  • Bookhout, C. G. and J. D. Costlow, Jr.: Larval development of Portunus spinicarpus reared in the laboratory. Bull. mar. Sci. 24, 20–51 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Boolootian, R. A., A. C. Giese, A. Farmanfarmaian and J. Tucker: Reproductive cycles of five west coast crabs. Physiol. Zoöl. 32, 213–220 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler, T. H.: A bibliography of the Dungeness crab, Cancer magister Dana. Tech. Rep. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 1, 1–12 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Costlow, J. D., Jr., C. G. Bookhout and R. Monroe: The effect of salinity and temperature on larval development of Sesarma cinereum (Bosc) reared in the laboratory. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 118, 183–202 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Costlow, J. D., Jr., C. G. Bookhout and R. Monroe: Studies on the larval development of the crab, Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Gould). I. The effect of salinity and temperature on larval development. Physiol. Zoöl. 39, 81–100 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahlstrom, W. A. and P. W. Wild: A history of Dungeness crab fisheries in California. Fish Bull. Calif. 172, 7–23 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawirs, R. R.: Effects of temperature and salinity on larval development of Pagurus bernhardus (Decapoda, Paguridae). Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 1, 323–329 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gore, R. H., C. L. Van Dover and K. A. Wilson: Studies on decapod Crustacea from the Indian River region of Florida. XX. Micropanope barbadensis (Rathbun, 1921): the complete larval development under laboratory conditions (Brachyura, Xanthidae). J. Crustacean Biol. (Lawrence, Kansas) 1, 28–50 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart, J. F. L.: The larval development of British Columbia Brachyura. II. Majidae, Subfamily Oregoniinae. Can. J. Zool. 58, 539–546 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, D. W.: Alaska's saltwater fishes and other sea life, 358 pp. Anchorage, Alaska: Alaska Northwest Publishing Co. 1985

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang, W. H. and A. M. Young: The larval development of Clibanarius vittatus (Bosc) (Crustacea: Decapoda; Diogenidae) reared in the laboratory. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 152, 84–104 (1977)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LeBour, M. V.: The larval stages of the Plymouth Brachyura. Proc. zool. Soc. Lond. 1928(2), 473–560 (1928)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayr, E.: Systematics and the origin of species, 334 pp. New York: Columbia University Press 1942

    Google Scholar 

  • Mottley, C. McC.: The effect of temperature during development on the number of scales in the Kamloops trout, Salmo kamloops Jordan. Contr. Can. Biol. Fish. 8, 254–263 (1934)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ong, K.-S. and J. D. Costlow, Jr.: The effect of salinity and temperature on the larval development of the stone crab, Menippe mercenaria (Say), reared in the laboratory. Chesapeake Sci. 11, 16–29 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Poole, R. L.: A description of laboratory-reared zoeae of Cancer magister Dana, and megalopae taken under natural conditions (Decapoda, Brachyura). Crustaceana 11, 83–97 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Preston, N.: The combined effects of temperature and salinity on hatching success and the survival, growth, and development of the larval stages of Metapenaeus bennettae (Racek and Dall). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 85, 57–74 (1985)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rathbun, M. J.: Decapod Crustacea of the northwest coast of North America. Harriman Alaska Exped. 10, 1–210 (1904). (New York: Doubleday, Page & Co. Reprinted: Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution 1910)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rathbun, M. J.: The cancroid crabs of America of the families Eurvalidae, Portunidae, Atelecyclidae, Cancridae, and Xanthidae. Bull. U.S. natn. Mus. 152, 1–609 (1930)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ray, C.: The application of Bergman's and Allen's rules to the poikilotherms. J. Morph. 106, 85–108 (1960)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reilly, P. N.: Ocean and estuarine conditions during Dungeness crab critical stage larval studies. Fish Bull. Calif. 172, 43–56 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandifer, P. A.: Effects of temperature and salinity on larval development of grass shrimp, Palaemonetes vulgaris (Decapoda, Caridea). Fish. Bull. U.S. 71, 115–123 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Scotto, L. E.: Larval development of the Cuban stone crab, Menippe modifrons (Brachyura, Xanthidae), under laboratory conditions with notes of the status of the family Menippidae. Fish. Bull. U.S. 77, 359–386 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stuck, K. C. and F. M. Truesdale: Larval and early postlarval development of Lepidopa benedicti Schmitt, 1935 (Anomura: Albuneidae) reared in the laboratory. J. Crustacean Biol. (Lawrence, Kansas) 6, 89–110 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  • Trask, T.: A description of laboratory-reared larvae of Cancer productus Randall (Decapoda, Brachyura) and a comparison to larvae of Cancer magister Dana. Crustaceana 18, 131–146 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wear, R. G.: Incubation in British decapod Crustacea, and the effects of temperature on the rate and success of embryonic development. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 54, 745–762 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wencker, D. L., L. S. Incze and D. A. Armstrong: Distinguishing between Chionocetes bairdi and C. opilio zoeae collected in the southeast Bering Sea. Alaska Sea Grant Rep. (Univ. Alaska, Anchorage) 82-10, 219–230 (1982). (Proceedings of the International Symposium on the genus Chionoecetes)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wild, P. W.: Effects of seawater temperature on spawning, egg development, hatching success, and population fluctuations of the Dungeness crab, Cancer magister. Fish Bull. Calif. 172, 197–213 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, K. A., L. E. Scotto and R. H. Gore: Studies on decapod Crustacea from the Indian River region of Florida. XIII. Larval development under laboratory conditions of the spider crab Mithrax forceps (A. Milne Edwards, 1875) (Brachyura: Majidae). Proc biol. Soc. Wash. 92, 307–327 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Fisheries and Science, University of Alaska, Juneau, 99801, Juneau, Alaska, USA

    S. M. Shirley & T. C. Shirley

  2. National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Auke Bay Laboratory, 99821, Auke Bay, Alaska, USA

    S. D. Rice

Authors
  1. S. M. Shirley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T. C. Shirley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. D. Rice
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by P. C. Schroeder, Pullman

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shirley, S.M., Shirley, T.C. & Rice, S.D. Latitudinal variation in the Dungeness crab, Cancer magister: zoeal morphology explained by incubation temperature. Mar. Biol. 95, 371–376 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409567

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409567

Keywords

Search

Navigation