Distribution and Occurrence of Swimming Crab, Portunus trituberculatus Larvae in the Mid-western Coast of Korea in the Yellow Sea

Distribution and occurrence of swimming crab, Portunus trituberculatus larvae were investigated in the mid-western coast of Korea in the Yellow Sea. P. trituberculatus larvae were collected in July and August from 2010 to 2012. Bongo net with 303 mesh was deployed once with a double oblique tow. Zoea I (ZI) densities were highest in all sampling months. Then densities of later larval stages decreased dramatically. In general, larval densities at the stations in northern parts and coastal areas were higher than those at the southern and offshore area. Because egg bearing seasons of P. trituberculatus in the study area are between April and August, larval densities, particularly, of ZI may be underestimated. Considering higher densities of ZI and lower ones of later stages, larvae may be transported to growing area and returned to the parental populations. Larval densities and sea surface temperature were not correlated.