Bay-ocean Exchange Processes: Development and Application of a Meroplankton Tracer Technique
Abstract
LONG TERM GOALS. The overall objective of this research is to determine the influence of San Diego Bay (SDB) contaminants on dynamics of decapod and other invertebrate crab larvae which naturally inhabit both embayments and more pristine coastal habitats. Our research has focused on the uptake and retention of bay contaminants by larvae as well as the effect of contaminants on larval survival, rates of larval development, dispersal and recruitment. Long term goals of this research are (1) to develop the use of elemental fingerprinting to evaluate sites of larval origin and (2) to use this approach to assess the relative significance of self-seeding (larval recruitment to parental populations) and larval exchange between bay and coastal populations as alternate recruitment mechanisms. OBJECTIVES. This year s objectives were to examine (1) trace element concentrations (copper, zinc) in marine invertebrate larvae sampled from SDB, neighboring embayments and the nearshore coastal zone of southern California. (2) the feasibility of utilizing these elements as larval tags. (3) the effects of SDB water and pollutants on larval survivorship, development rates and metamorphosis relative to open coastal waters and neighboring embayments. (4)the uptake rate and retention of copper, a recognized pollutant in SDB, by larvae through their planktonic period. (5) the interaction of physical processes and larval behavior in determining the short-term dispersal, export and retention, of newly hatched (stage I) crab, P. crassipes, larvae and other decapod species. This project is supported by the Harbor Processes Research Program.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA634257
Entities
People
- Lisa A. Levin
Organizations
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography