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JPR Advance Access published online on June 24, 2004
Journal of Plankton Research, doi:10.1093/plankt/fbh106
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Received June 13, 2003
Accepted June 3, 2004

Article

Patterns of Temporal Occurrence of Brachyuran Crab Larvae at Saco Mangrove Creek, Inhaca Island (South Mozambique): Implications for Flux and Recruitment

José Paula 1*, Cátia Bartilotti 2, Tiago Dray 1, Adriano Macia 3, Henrique Queiroga 4

1 IMAR - Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada do Guincho, 2750-642, Cascais, Portugal
2 IMAR - Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada do Guincho, 2750-642, Cascais, Portugal; present address: IPIMAR, Av Brasília, s/n, 1449-006 Lisboa, Portugal
3 Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, CP 257, Maputo, Mozambique
4 Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jpaula{at}fc.ul.pt.


  Abstract

Temporal patterns of larval occurrence of brachyuran taxa were described from Saco mangrove creek, Mozambique, based on plankton samples. Brachyuran larvae were collected hourly in four 24 h cycles during neap and spring tidal periods at a fixed station, in November 1997 and February 1998. Results indicate a semilunar cycle of larval release activity for most species. Newly-hatched stages of sesarmids showed a peak occurrence in post-crepuscular ebbing tides, Macrophthalmus spp. and Uca spp. showed highest densities during ebbing tides at night. Dotilla fenestrata and Pinnotheridae, in spite of showing semilunar pattern, did not display significant differences between day and night. Most mangrove taxa showed thus a clear larval exportation behaviour during ebb tides, with little return during the following floods, with varying degrees of dependence on the diel period. Megalopae were restricted to the night period, and highest values were obtained during spring tidal periods. However, maximum values of megalopae were obtained both during flood and ebb periods, contrary to most previous studies. This is interpreted as a bidirectional transport of non-competent megalopae into and from the mangrove area.


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