Glacier Bay Crabs The Life and Times of Dungeness Crabs in
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Life history of Dungeness
crabs; distribution of Dungeness crabs throughout Glacier Bay;
animal ecology; the effectiveness of a marine preserve for
protecting species, such as Dungeness crab; special adaptations
to a marine environment Dungeness crabs are an important benthic
species of Glacier Bay. Glacier Bay was closed in 1999 to all
commercial fishing of Dungeness crabs because of the possibility
of a collapse of Alaska's Dungeness fisheries. Preliminary
studies indicate that this closure will increase the size and
abundance of this important species, as well as improve its
genetic biodiversity. What factors are important to maintaining
a strong population of Dungeness crab in Southeast Alaska?
Students will know ... - The life history of Dungeness crabs -
The place of the Dungeness crab in the food web of Glacier Bay's
marine environment - The physiological adaptations that allow
crabs to thrive in the extre