Date of Award

8-2026

Degree Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

School

Ocean Science and Engineering

Committee Chair

Zachary Darnell

Committee Chair School

Ocean Science and Engineering

Committee Member 2

Chet Rakocinski

Committee Member 2 School

Ocean Science and Engineering

Committee Member 3

Robert Leaf

Committee Member 3 School

Ocean Science and Engineering

Abstract

Globally, ecosystems are experiencing rising temperatures due to climate change, with potential consequences for reproductive investment and timing in many species. Blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, support valuable commercial fisheries throughout the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and understanding variation in reproductive output has important management and conservation implications. This study examined two components of blue crab reproduction: (1) reproductive investment across populations spanning multiple latitudes (New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Texas), using a space-for-time substitution to assess the effects of varying thermal regimes on fecundity and egg quality, and (2) spawning phenology in North Carolina from 2001–2024. Fecundity ranged from 380,132–5,213,300 eggs and was strongly linked to body size across all locations, with location-specific differences most pronounced early in the spawning season. Egg volume and egg dry mass both showed a negative relationship with water temperature; however, these metrics were often decoupled, suggesting egg size may be a poor proxy for maternal investment in warmer populations. Single-egg energetic content was consistently higher in northern populations. Dry weight energy density showed opposing seasonal trends, decreasing across the spawning season in New Jersey and increasing in Mississippi. In North Carolina, the peak and conclusion of spawning shifted significantly later (~1.24 days/year), and spawning duration increased over the 24-year study period. Only the peak of spawning was linked to water temperatures, advancing in warmer years. Collectively, these results indicate that temperature influences blue crab reproductive output in complex, location-specific ways not fully explained by differences in thermal regime.

ORCID ID

0009-0007-0577-7918

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Available for download on Monday, August 31, 2026

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