Principal Habitats For Each Stage In The Life CycleShrimp Eggs: Deep in Gulf Waters
Nauplius Larva: All throughout the water column since they cannot control their movements. Mysis Larva: Close to shores, but they tend to move away from light and down the water column. This is probably because they are trying to escape predators. Postlarva: Carried into brackish estuarine waters by currents. Since they can now graze, they stay close to the bottom, searching for food on the sea floor. Juveniles: Throughout the estuary as far inland as covered by salty waters, and outside along protected coastal areas. They tend to stay close to the edges of wherever they are since they provide protection and food. Subadult: Toward the estuarine shores of barrier islands, feeding on the bottom, and occasionally rising in the water column to feed opportunistically. Adult: Deep water, 60-500 feet below the sea's surface |