Blue crab in Calvert Cliffs area of Chesapeake Bay

Technical Report · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1973

OSTI ID:4424925

Sulkin, S D; Miller, R E; Mihursky, J A

In ecological effects of nuclear steam electric station operations on estuarine systems. Volume l1. The blue crab program carried out off the Calvert Cliffs site at established transect stations (Map 1) is part of a larger study conducted within the Chesapeake Bay System. Recent data have modified our concepts concerning blue crab movements and distribution. High wintering over densities of juvenile blue crabs in the Calvert Cliffs region occurred during the winter of 1969--70; however, during the winters of 1970--71 and 1971-- 72 the juveni1e population was more dispersed. Apparently low temperatures are a limiting factor in halting dispersal. During the winter of 1969--70 a late movement may have occurred from the lower Bay and the timing with low temperatures halted the movement of a large number of juveniles in the Calvert Cliffs region. Movement of juveniles from the lower Bay apparently began earlier in subsequent years and resulted in a more widespread distribution in the Bay system before low limiting temperature prevailed. Thus, the Calvent Cliffs region is not a consistent wintering over area. The region does tend to support high densities of adult blue crabs, especially during the late summer and fall periods when large numbers of females are migrating south to the spawning grounds in the Bay mouth area. (ERB)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Solomons; Maryland Univ., Solomons (USA). Natural Resources Inst.
• NSA Number: NSA-29-000423
• OSTI ID: 4424925
• Report Number(s): ORO--4328-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*CRUSTACEANS-- ECOLOGY
CHESAPEAKE BAY
N44500* --Environmental & Earth Sciences--Site Surveys