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MEPS 265:175-184 (2003)
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Abstract
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Distribution, abundance, and survivorship of young-of-the-year in a commercially exploited population of horseshoe crabs Limulus polyphemus
Mark L. Botton1,*, Robert E. Loveland2, Athena Tiwari3
1Department of Natural Sciences, Fordham College at Lincoln Center, 113 West 60th Street, New York, New York 10023, USA
2Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, Cook College, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA
3Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham College at Rose Hill, Larkin Hall, 441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, New York 10458, USA
*Email: botton@fordham.edu
ABSTRACT: Horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus eggs are laid on sandy estuarine beaches, and subsequently develop into first instar (trilobite) larvae that emerge into the plankton before settlement. To obtain estimates of early survival, we collected
data on the densities of trilobite larvae within intertidal sediments on a beach in Delaware Bay, New Jersey, and the densities of post-settlement juveniles, through the first 4 instar stages, on the adjacent tidal flats. Over the course of the spawning
season in 1999, there were some 761000 live trilobites produced within a 1 × 3 m band of intertidal beach. Losses (mortality + emigration) were highest during the brief planktonic phase or shortly after settlement to the benthos; we estimated that
about 97.5% of the live trilobites on the beaches were lost during their transition to epibenthic trilobites on the intertidal flats. Newly settled horseshoe crab juveniles were not dependent on a specific sediment type, but tended to be more abundant
close to shore. After settlement, there was about a log-fold decrease in juvenile density with each molt from the second through the fourth instar. Overall, only about 3 larvae per 100000 remained as fourth instar juveniles on the tidal flats at the end
of their first summer. Our ability to extrapolate future adult year-class strengths based on young-of-the-year densities is limited, because 9 to 10 yr are required for horseshoe crabs to reach sexual maturity.
KEY WORDS: Horseshoe crab · Limulus polyphemus · Recruitment · Fisheries · Delaware Bay
Full text in pdf format
Published in MEPS Vol.
265
(2003) on December 31
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2003
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