Marine Biology Commons^™

Utilization Of Seagrass Habitat By The Blue Crab, Callinectes Sapidus Rathbun, In Chesapeake Bay: A Review, Robert J. Orth, Jacques Van Montfrans, Romuald N. Lipcius, Karen S. Metcalf

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Seagrasses are generally presumed to provide important habitats for numerous species of vertebrates and invertebrates, serving as a nursery, structure for attachment, or foraging area. However, few species appear directly dependent on seagrass, one notable exception being the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians Lamarck. Research in Chesapeake Bay on the abundant, and commercially exploitable blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, over the last decade, focused on the relevance of seagrass habitat for the overall population. Our research has demonstrated: I. higher densities of juvenile blue crabs in seagrass habitats compared to adjacent marsh and unvegetated areas, 2. seagrasses to be an important …