ASGSB 1998 Annual Meeting Abstracts

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THE STUDY OF LIMULUS POLYPHEMUS ALONG THE SHORELINE OF MERRITT ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE (MINWR).   A.S. Gavurnik¹, and G. Ehlinger². ¹University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana; ²Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne.

A short-term study was conducted in participation with Florida A&M University's six week Space Life Sciences Training Program within the parameters of a more extensive study. The study quantitatively analyzed the population of L. polyphemus and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) concentration in pore water of the habitat's sediment within the intertidal zone, in order to create a baseline of data for future studies. Six study sites, individually consisting of 200 m of shoreline, were dispersed throughout three lagoons within MINWR. L. polyphemus were collected and tagged by hand and through seine netting along sites. Pore water was collected using syringe barrel and centrifuge tubes filled with nitrogen gas and zinc acetate. The Methylene Blue method was used to analyze the H₂S concentration. Results revealed no apparent correlation between the concentration of H₂S in the pore water and the amount of L. polyphemus inhabiting the area. The horseshoe crabs seemed to prefer the Indian River Lagoon and showed a larger number of females and overall adults at most of the sites. Much gratitude is extended to Dynamac Corporation, Florida A&M University and NASA for their infinite support and resources.

(Supported by the NASA Space Life Sciences Training Program)

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