Movement and Habitat Selection in Tagged Rock Crabs {Cancer antennarius) in Intertidal Channels at James V. Fitzgerald Marine Life Refuge, California

Abstract

From November 1987 to February 1989, 387 rock crabs (Cancer an- <br /><br />tennarius) were tagged in three intertidal channels at James V. Fitzgerald Marine <br /><br />Life Refuge. Searches for crabs were conducted in the channels during low tides <br /><br />at least monthly. Seventy-nine crabs were resighted alive, 70 of these within one <br /><br />month of tagging. The other nine were resighted at two to nine months after <br /><br />tagging. Seven were resighted more than once. All were resighted in the channels <br /><br />in which they were tagged. Twelve were found dead, all within a short distance <br /><br />of the channels.