ABUNDANCE OF INVASIVE AND NATIVE CRAB LARVAE IN THE MOUTH OF DELAWARE BAY: HEMIGRAPSUS SANGUINEUS AND UCA PUGNAX

ABSTRACT We compare larval distributions of the invasive Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus and the native fiddler crab Ucapugnax. Our study was conducted in the coastal ocean adjacent to Delaware Bay on the east coast of the United States. Subtidal circulation in the study area is dominated by the Delaware Coastal Current, which is formed by the estuarine plume that extends southward out of the bay and along the inner continental shelf. The offshore edge of the current is marked by a strong density front and by convergent circulation along the frontal boundary. Surface plankton tows were taken at fine-scale intervals along saw-tooth transects traversing the front on 3 consecutive days in early August. Coincident physical measurements delivered hydrographic data throughout the investigation. Results provided a synoptic view of larval distribution near the bay mouth and showed patchy occurrence of the 2 species within the sampling area. Approximately 8.7 × 105 U. pugnax larvae were collected during th...