@article {80571, title = {Comparing Metacarcinus magister Settlement Preferences among the Seagrasses Zostera marina and Zostera japonica}, year = {2013}, note = {This is an undergraduate student project report. Juvenile crabs need both protection from predators and easily available prey. These needs are met in complex habitats, such as eelgrass beds. This raises a question about the effects of the invasive Japanese eelgrass on the crabs, as contrasted with the native eelgrass. In this undergraduate research paper, a study of settlement patterns of Dungeness crabs is described. Bags of oyster shells were placed in beds of native and Japanese eelgrass and on mud. The number of juvenile crabs were counted after two weeks. {\textquotedblleft}Overall, M. magister abundance varies widely over the habitats we studied, and was highest in seagrass habitats, especially seagrass with a large biomass, as well as at a low tidal height.{\textquotedblright} Results indicated that Japanese eelgrass might be beneficial for crab larvae.}, pages = {13 p.}, publisher = {Oregon State University}, address = {Corvallis, Or.}, keywords = {crustaceans, decapods, Dungeness crab = Metacarcinus magister (Cancer magister), eelgrass = Zostera marina, geographic distribution, habitats, Japanese eelgrass = Zostera japonica, Oregon shore crab = Hemigrapsus oregonensis, Yaquina Bay}, url = {https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/undergraduate_thesis_or_projects/ms35t990c }, author = {Heidmann, Sarah and Jaco, Erin} }