Flux of crab larvae in a mangrove creek in the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica

Abstract

Transport of crab zoeae, megalopae, and early juveniles was measured in a mangrove estero (creek) in the Gulf of Nicoya on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. In 1987, larvae were collected by quantitative pumping from a platform moored in the mouth of the estero. During each sampling period, larvae were collected every 2 h over five consecutive tidal cycles. The investigation consisted of one spring-tide sampling period and one neap-tide sampling period during each season of the year (dry season, dry-rainy transition, rainy season, and rainy-dry transition). Hourly tidal heights were available for each sampling period. A model for hindcasting tidal volume flux from the change in sea level over each half tidal cycle was developed from measurements made in the estero in 1989. This model was used to calculate tidal volume flux and consequent larval flux during each of the 1987 sampling periods. There was a net export of zoea stage I of four taxonomic groups ( Uca spp., Pinnotheres spp., Petrolistes spp., and Grapsidae) during most sampling periods, while there was a net import of zoea stage I of only two groups ( Pinnixa spp. and Xanthidae). Intermediate and late zoeal stages of all taxonomic groups were generally imported into the estero, as were megalopal and juvenile stages. Quantitative estimates of net larval transport corroborated earlier qualitative models of larval transport that had been based on observations of the vertical distribution of larvae in the water column.