LARVAL DEVELOPMENT OF PAGURUS LONGICARPUS SAY REARED IN THE LABORATORY. IV. ASPECTS OF THE ECOLOGY OF THE MEGALOPA

¹ Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062

1. Mortality of isolated megalopae is unaffected by shell presence or absence In mass culture, shell-less megahopae have a higher mortality because of cannibalism.

2. After 24 hours, 50% of the megalopae have entered a shell if available: after 48 hours, up to 93%. A few megalopae which failed to enter a shell did so immediately after the molt to the juvenile instar.

3. Intermolt duration was not significantly affected by shell presence or absence.