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Defended and Graduated
October 2004
Thesis Abstract:
Glacier Bay, AK:
A Source or a Sink for Dungeness Crab Larvae?
Dungeness crabs (Cancer
magister) comprise an important commercial fishing resource within
the state of Alaska. Recently, commercial fishing within Glacier Bay National
Park in Southeast Alaska was closed to Dungeness crab harvest. This closure
has resulted in a unique opportunity to study benefits of a marine reserve
concept. Prior to the closure of fishing, studies were conducted to examine
the distribution, abundance, sex ratio and movement of adult Dungeness
crabs within and adjacent to Glacier Bay (O’Clair et al. 1990, O’Clair
et al. 1993, and Leder and Shirley 1993). Although these studies help
explain the distribution of adult Dungeness crabs, there is little known
about larval dispersal into the Bay, or export to adjacent areas. My research
involves collecting current meter data concurrent with plankton tows to
explore the question of whether Glacier Bay is a potential source or a
sink for Dungeness crab larvae. The results and conclusions of this study
will help resource managers assess whether Glacier Bay serves as an effective
marine reserve for Dungeness crab, and will facilitate a better understanding
of the oceanography and physical processes affecting larval dispersal
to, from, and within the bay.
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