Interannual variability in density, timing and survival of Alaskan red king crab Paralithodes camtschatica larvae

Abstract

Larvae of the red king crab Paralithodes camtschatica were sampled with 5 replicate tows of a 1.0 m super(2) NIO net from March to July, every 2 wk in 1985 and weekly in 1986 through 1988, in Auke Bay, Alaska. Interannual variation existed in time of hatch, length of larval period, larval density, synchrony with the spring phytoplankton bloom, and survival. Hatching occurred earlier, and the period larvae were present was longer, in years with warmer water temperatures. Length of the larval period ranged from 56 d (1985) to 113 d (1988). Maximum density of stage 1 zoeae varied from 10 (1988) to 45 per 100 m super(3) (1987). Larval survival from stage 1 zoea to glaucothoe, estimated by instar analysis, ranged from 0.7% (1986) to 3% (1988), and survival from stage 1 to stage 4 zoeae ranged from 12.6% in 1986 to 14.9% in 1987. Hatching coincided with the spring phytoplankton bloom in 1985 and 1987, but not in 1986 or 1988.