Abstract
Advection and dispersion of swimming crab (Portunus trituberculatus MEIRS)larvae in the Hiuchi-Nada, a central part of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan is numerically simulated. A three-dimensional numerical model of tidal current and the residual flow in the Hiuchi-Nada is developed first. Calculated distribution of the larvae in the model well reproduces the observed one in the field. Diurnal vertical migration of swimming crab larvae plays an important role in their recruitment strategy from offshore region to the nearshore region.
