A brief massive aggregation of pelagic swimming crabs Euphylax dovii (Decapoda: Portunidae) at Cocos Island, Costa Rica coincides with onset of El Niño event

 

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書誌詳細
著者: Hearn, Alex, Steiner, Todd, Arauz, Randall
フォーマット: artículo original
状態:Versión publicada
出版日付:2020
その他の書誌記述:Introduction: Sporadic aggregations of decapod crustaceans can occur for various reasons and in some cases their drivers are poorly understood. Objective: Here, we present our observations of an apparently rare massive aggregation of pelagic swimming crabs, Euphylax dovi.  Methods: During a research cruise at Cocos Island (5°32’34” N, 87°05’06” W), we encountered large numbers of E. dovii in surface waters in the evenings of May 6-7, 2015, some of which we collected for identification prior to returning to the water. Results: Crabs of both sexes were identified, yet no females were bearing eggs. Crabs aggregated around a small dinghy used for scientific surveying from 4pm through 8pm each evening, and around our research vessel throughout the night, presumably attracted by the lights. On both occasions, the aggregation dissipated around dawn. Crabs were not seen prior to or after the two nights. Conclusions: Sea surface temperatures at Cocos during this period were markedly warm, with no perceptible thermocline down to at least 40 m, coinciding with the onset of the 2015 El Niño event. It appears that the aggregation formed in response to El Niño conditions, yet the biological reason behind it remains unknown.
国:Portal de Revistas UCR
機関:Universidad de Costa Rica
Repositorio:Portal de Revistas UCR
言語:Inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:portal.ucr.ac.cr:article/41196
オンライン・アクセス:https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rbt/article/view/41196
キーワード:Brachyura; Eastern Tropical Pacific; El Niño; mass aggregation.
Brachyura; Pacífico Este Tropical; El Niño; agregación masiva.