Species profiles: Life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (Pacific Southwest): Dungeness crab

Technical Report · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6810641

Pauley, G B; Armstrong, D A; Van Citter, R; Thomas, G L ^[1]

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1. Washington Univ., Seattle, WA (USA)

Species profiles are literature summaries of the taxonomy, life history, and environmental requirements of coastal aquatic species. They are designed to assist in environmental impact assessments. The Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) is found in California estuaries and off the coast of California. It is a shellfish highly prized and sought after by both commercial and sport fishermen. Commercial landings in California have fluctuated widely, almost cyclically, over the past 30 years. In the California sport fishery, a minimum size of 6.25 inches carapace width has been established. Dungeness crab have a life cycle that involves several metamorphic stages: zoea, megalops, postlarval crab, and adult crab. Normal temperatures for Dungeness crabs are 3 to 19{degree}C. Optimum salinity for egg hatching is about 15 ppT, but the survival rate of larvae is highest at salinities of 25 to 30 ppT. 92 refs., 8 figs.

• Research Organization: Washington Univ., Seattle, WA (USA); National Wetlands Research Center, Slidell, LA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOI
• OSTI ID: 6810641
• Report Number(s): BR-82(11.121); TR-EL--82-4/82(11.121); ON: TI90013851
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540310* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
550100 -- Behavioral Biology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMAL GROWTH
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
BASELINE ECOLOGY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGY
COASTAL WATERS
CRABS
CRUSTACEANS
DECAPODS
ECOLOGY
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FEEDING
FISHERIES
GROWTH
INVERTEBRATES
LIFE CYCLE
MORPHOLOGY
POLLUTION
POPULATION DYNAMICS
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
SALINITY
SPECIES DIVERSITY
SUBSTRATES
SURFACE WATERS
TAXONOMY
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE