Date of Award
2024
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Biological and Environmental Sciences (MSBES)
Specialization
Ecoloy and Ecosystem Sciences
First Advisor
Serena Moseman-Valtierra
Abstract
Abundance of Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus is increasing in New England coastal estuaries which are well-documented blue crab habitat. Blue crab population and habitat were characterized in the anthropogenically altered Kickemuit River in Rhode Island, USA, to evaluate abundance, habitat use, and tolerances to anthropogenic impact. Crabs in dammed and undammed portions of the river were monitored for abundance, size, maturation, and sex from May to October 2023 using crab pots. Water quality and substrate data were collected to elucidate the relationships among crab population, seasonal environmental patterns, and habitat preference. It was hypothesized that benthic habitat characteristics would affect blue crab abundance, size, maturation, and sex between contrasting sites due to spatial segregation of sexes, ontogeny patterns, and anthropogenic and tidal alteration of this estuarine system caused by dams. Despite damming presenting a significant physical barrier, crab abundance was not considerably different north and south of the dam. Crabs were resilient to hypoxia and temperature extremes. The river is home to a resident male population and transient female population, following similar niche partitioning in the Chesapeake region. Salinity and community composition differences between sites suggest the dam limits tidal exchange north of the dam, effectively splitting the river into separate aquatic and estuarine ecosystems. These data suggest blue crab exhibits resilience that would make them successful in benthic ecosystems as populations continue expanding northward and occupy new areas with historical large-scale anthropogenic alteration.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Sachs, Madison, "RANGE-EXPANDING ATLANTIC BLUE CRAB (CALLINECTES SAPIDUS) ABUNDANCE AND HABITAT SELECTION IN AN ANTHROPOGENICALLYALTERED TIDAL RIVER OF NARRAGANSETT BAY, RHODE ISLAND" (2024). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 2488.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/2488