Anemic Blue Crabs from the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuary: Hemocyanin Concentrationsas a Measure of Environmental Quality

摘要

The objective of the research was to measure hemocyanin concentrations in bluecrabs throughout coastal North Carolina on a spatial and temporal basis. These measurements were designed to: (1) determine if the abnormal hemocyanin levels, which the authors have observed in September, 1988 in Pamlico River crabs, are associated with a particular season, or persist throughout the year; (2) to delineate the area(s) in which the abnormalities occur; and (3) to obtain necessary background information on seasonal variability in hemocyanin concentrations in 'unstressed' populations of blue crabs.