Abstract:

This dataset includes daily Callinectes sp megalopal settlement rates and biweekly megalopal weights at seven sites from April-October in 2010 and 2011.

Suggested Citation:

Erin K. Grey, Susan Chiasson, Hannah G. Williams, Victoria J Troeger, and Caz M. Taylor C.. 2016. Callinectes sp. Megalopal Settlement and Weights in 2010 and 2011 Across the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7GB22G2

Publications:

Grey, E. K., Chiasson, S. C., Williams, H. G., Troeger, V. J., & Taylor, C. M. (2015). Evaluation of Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus, Megalopal Settlement and Condition during the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. PLoS ONE, 10(8), e0135791. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0135791

Purpose:

This dataset was developed to test the hypothesis that Callinectes sp. larvae were not influenced by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Data Parameters and Units:

The megalopae settlement dataset has 3 parameters. "Site" is the site from which the sample was collected. "Date" is the date of collection (note that there were 2-4 replicates at a site each day). "Callinectes_Meg_N" is the number of Callinectes spp. megalopae caught on that replicate collector. The megalopal weights file includes the mean dry weights of Callinectes sp. megalopae. The dataset file includes four fields. First is "Year", either 2010 or 2011. The second is "Site", one of 7 sites. The third field is the biweekly weight period. Period A starts on May 16th, B on May 30th, C on June 13th and so on until October 31st for a total of 12 biweekly periods each year. The "WPU_mg" field is the individual dry weight in milligrams measured for that time period. Coordinates of the sites (Long/Lat in decimal degrees) were: APALACHICOLA -84.980706, 29.726056, RIGOLETS -89.793158, 30.064297, DAUPHIN -88.077806, 30.251275, GALVESTON -94.817131, 29.312742, GRAND ISLE -89.962331, 29.262911, OCEAN SPRINGS -88.800297, 30.39155, PENSACOLA -87.159075, 30.337825 and RIGOLETS -89.634422, 30.152858. All seven sites were sampled in 2010 and in 2011 only GALVESTON, GRAND ISLE, DAUPHIN, and PENSACOLA were sampled.

Methods:

All megalopae samples were collected using hog hair traps deployed for 24 hour periods. Standard collection method as described in Metcalf et al. 1996 and in Grey et al 2015. Megalopal settlement and weight method details are published in Grey et al. 2015. Grey EK, Chiasson SC, Williams HG, Troeger VJ, Taylor CM (2015) Evaluation of Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus, megalopal settlement and condition during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. PLoS ONE 10(8): e0135791. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0135791. Mean dry megalopal weights were measured from ethanol-fixed samples using a covered Sartorius CPA2P balance. Samples were dried first at room temperature (3 days), by nitrogen gas (15 min), and in a 60 degrees C drying oven (30 min).

Instruments:

Megalopae were collected with hogs-hair traps.

Individual Files: