The effect of salinity and temperature on survival and metamorphosis of megalops of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus

Abstract

1. Megalops of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidusRathbun, reared from hatching through all zoeal stages at 25° C, 30 p. p. m., were maintained in 23 combinations of salinity and temperature until metamorphosis to determine the effect of salinity and temperature and the combined effect of salinity and temperature on survival and rate of development. 2. Survival of the megalops stage was similar at temperatures of 20°, 25°, and 30° C with the exception of the larvae maintained at 5 and 10 p. p. m. At 15° C, survival never exceed 50 percent. 3. In the lower salinities (5 and 10 p. p. m.) survival decreased with a decrease in temperature. 4. The most pronounced effect of temperature in delaying the time of metamorphosis was observed in megalops maintained at 15° C. As the salinity increased from 20 to 40 p. p. m., the duration of the megalops stage was further extended at 150° C. This effect was not observed at other salinity-temperature combinations. 5. Statistical analysis of factorical design was used to predict the mortality and duration of the megalops stage which might be expected under a greater number of salinity-temperature combinations than are feasible to observe in the laboratory. The results of the analysis and their possible significance are discussed. 6. The hypothesis is presented that survival and duration of the megalops of C. sapidus in the natural environment are directly associated with the time of hatching, the time at which the megalops stage is reached in relation to seasonal changes in water temperatures, and the salinity of the water in which the final zoeal molt occurs. The delay of metamorphosis in waters of high salinity and low temperature may have contributed to the distribution of this species in the estuaries along a major portion of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States. © 1967 Biologischen Anstalt Helgoland.