The polcril i ,i I ('X|)(irl or linporl ot winter t lounclt-r l,-irv.'u- I rom the 

 Niantic: RJver was investigated by sampling three ebb and three flood 

 tides at the river mouth. Most of the larvae collected during this 

 study were Stages 3 (45%) and 4 (48%) . Many more larvae were collected 

 during flood tide (Fig. 15) . No consistent difference in collection 



EBB FLOOD 

 MAY 9 



EBB FLOOD 

 MAT 9 



EBB FLOOD 

 MAY 16 



Figure 15. Frequency and collection times 

 of larval winter flounder taken 

 at the mouth of the Niantic River 

 during maximum ebb and flood tidal 

 currents. 



frequency was found between mid and bottom depths. During the period of 

 sampling, there was a net increase in the number of winter flounder 

 larvae entering the Niantic River. The larval dispersion model for the 

 Niantic River (Saila 1976) , which assumed larvae behaved as passive 

 particles, simulated an approximate 4% loss from the river per tidal 

 cycle. Stage 3 and 4 larvae, which have developing or developed fins, 

 may have used vertical movements in response to tidal currents for 

 transport into the Niantic River from the bay. 



The abundance of lion's mane jellyfish ( Cyanea sp.) medusae in the 

 Niantic River samples was measured volumetrically (Fig. 16) . Volumes of 

 medusae increased at station A during late March and at station B during 

 early May. Marshall and Hicks (1962) also found that medusae were more 

 abundant in the upper river compared to the lower portion during May and 

 June. A peak occurred at stations A and B during mid-May. At station 

 C, jellyfish were most abundant in the last week of May. Although no 



42 



