Date of Award
1999
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
October 2026
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Salmon, Michael
Abstract
Hatching rhythms of intertidal crabs vary in timing with species, burrow position, tidal regimes and larval vulnerability. Most fiddler crabs time larval release with the nocturnal high fide. This is possible in semidiurnal tidal regimes because there are nocturnal high tides each lunar day. However, mixed tidal regimes have a semidiurnal and a diurnal period. During the diurnal phase high fide occurs in the afternoon. This variation in tidal inundation patterns may influence the timing of larval release. Comparisons between two populations of fiddler crab (Uca thayeri ), exposed to different tidal regimes, indicated they time larval release differently. The population exposed to semidiurnal tides timed larval release with the nocturnal high tide prior to the maximum amplitude tide. The population exposed to mixed tides timed larval release with the diurnal maximum amplitude tide. The differences between the populations can be related to their ecology but other variables may contribute.
Extent
31 p.
Recommended Citation
Kellmeyer, Kay, "Larval release by the fiddler crab Uca thayeri: Timing and cues used under different tidal regimes" (1999). Electronic Theses and Dissertations 1990 - 1999. 1484.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general_4/1484
Identifier
FADT15732
Comments
Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1999.|Charles E. Schmidt College of Science|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1999.