Crab assemblages in Eelgrass beds in Southeast Alaska

• Main Authors: Wendel Raymond, Tiffany Stephens, Ginny Eckert
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity 2018
• Subjects: Crab; Seagrass; Eelgrass; Sea otter; Cancer productus; Leptocottus armatus; Metacarcinus gracilis; Metacarcinus magister; Telmessus cheiragonus; Prince of Wales Island; Archipelago; Alaska
• Online Access: https://search.dataone.org/view/urn:uuid:9fdb49d1-bb99-434c-a017-f446591b1630

Crab populations within intertidal eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds were assessed during summertime 2017 (May-August). Data were collected on western Prince of Wales Alaska, at 21 sites. At each site, the coordinates, dates and times that the pots were set and pulled, crab species, and crab size were recorded. Crabs were sampled by setting three replicate strings of baited crab pots for 24-hrs, each with three different pot styles. Fish were sometimes captured, as well, and are reported in this dataset. The purpose of these data was to characterize the crab assemblage within eelgrass communities so that analysis of trophic interactions could be assessed along a gradient of sea otter occupation for an NSF-funded project: Apex Predators, Ecosystems, and Community Sustainability (APECS, http://apecs-ak.org/). Other datasets to support this work are also archived with KNB.