Assessing the Viability of American Horseshoe Crab (<i>Limulus polyphemus</i>) Embryos in Salt Marsh and Sandy Beach Habitats

Kendrick, Michael R.; Brunson, Jeff; Sasson, Daniel A.; Hamilton, Kristin L.; Gooding, Elizabeth L.; Pound, Sarah L.; Kingsley‐Smith, Peter R.

doi:10.1086/714277

Cited by 5 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…2015b). For clutches laid in SC’s muddy salt marsh habitat, embryos at all developmental stages were observed by Kendrick et al . (2021), although there was some indication that these eggs may have been somewhat less viable than those laid in sandy beaches.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

“…In SC and NH, sediment temperatures at the alternative habitat locations were generally higher than those at beach locations, while the opposite was true in CT. Higher temperatures generally increase the speed of embryonic development but can negatively impact viability when combined with low oxygen (Vasquez et al 2015b). For clutches laid in SC's muddy salt marsh habitat, embryos at all developmental stages were observed by Kendrick et al (2021), although there was some indication that these eggs may have been somewhat less viable than those laid in sandy beaches. Potential lower egg viability be an indication that these sediments contain lower available oxygen than sandy beach sediments, but data is needed to test this hypothesis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Following protocols of Mattei (2009), the survey team at the beach walked along the transect with one observer at the high tide line and the other observer 2m into the water in SC and NH and 3m into the water in CT. For adult spawning surveys in alternative habitats in SC and NH, the survey team walked along a transect with one observer at the marsh platform edge and the other observer two meters into the marsh, away from the platform edge. It is in this area that eggs have previously been found in the salt marsh in SC (Kendrick et al 2021). High turbidity and steep slopes beyond the platform edge yielded poor visibility in both states, making horseshoe crabs beyond the platform were likely uncounted.…”

Section: Adult Horseshoe Crab Spawning Surveysmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…These habitats have generally been considered unsuitable for embryonic development (e.g., Botton et al . 1988), but a recent study from South Carolina found that horseshoe crab clutches laid in muddy salt marsh habitat contained similar developmental stages as clutches laid on sandy beaches (Kendrick et al . 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, in Mid-Atlantic states, horseshoe crabs sometimes spawn in muddy sediments, peat beds, and fringing salt marsh (e.g., Botton et al 1988;Beekey and Mattei 2008;Castro 2019), while in New England they have been observed spawning on mudflats, and in eel grass habitats (C. Chabot, personal observation). These habitats have generally been considered unsuitable for embryonic development (e.g., Botton et al 1988), but a recent study from South Carolina found that horseshoe crab clutches laid in muddy salt marsh habitat contained similar developmental stages as clutches laid on sandy beaches (Kendrick et al 2021). Since egg survivorship and development can influence population growth dynamics of horseshoe crabs (Sweka et al 2007;Grady and Valiela 2006), understanding the extent to which horseshoe crabs spawn in these alternative habitats will contribute to more accurate assessments of horseshoe crab populations and their conservation needs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The use of alternative spawning habitats by the American horseshoe crab,Limulus polyphemus

Sasson

Chabot

Mattei

et al. 2022

Preprint

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For animals that develop externally, habitats where environmental conditions are optimal for embryonic development are sometimes assumed to represent the highest recruitment potential and thus support the majority of reproductive output for a species. However, organisms may spawn in areas considered sub-optimal for embryonic development. Thus, understanding spawning habitat selection decisions and their potential impacts on recruitment and ecological interactions is necessary for predicting population status and identifying critical habitats to inform sustainable conservation decisions and effective management approaches. The American horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, is ecologically, economically, and biomedically important. Females come ashore to spawn in the sediment where eggs develop for 2 – 4 weeks. Horseshoe crabs have been thought to primarily use sandy beach habitat for spawning in part because this habitat has been shown to be optimal for embryonic development. Horseshoe crab eggs on sandy beaches are an essential part of the diet of many organisms, including shorebirds such as the rufa red knot which requires the eggs to fuel their migration to arctic spawning grounds. While horseshoe crabs have been observed spawning in alternative habitats such as salt marshes and peat beds, this behavior has been assumed to be rare and non-adaptive. In this study, we compare the use of beach and alternative habitats by horseshoe crabs for spawning. To do so, we conducted adult horseshoe crab spawning surveys and horseshoe crab egg surveys in beach and Spartina-dominated salt marsh alternative habitats in South Carolina, Connecticut, and New Hampshire, U.S.A. While spawning horseshoe crabs were more likely to be observed on beach habitats than in alternative habitats, potentially due to logistical constraints surveying alternative habitats, we found similar densities of spawning horseshoe crabs in both habitat types. We also tended to find more eggs in alternative habitats than on beaches. Taken together, these results suggest that alternative habitats likely represent a significant source of horseshoe crab spawning activity and recruitment that had not previously been quantified. We recommend this information be incorporated into horseshoe crab population assessments, habitat protections, and more directed research at understanding variability in habitat-specific horseshoe crab spawning and its relationship to migratory shorebirds.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Adult Horseshoe Crab Spawning Surveysmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

The use of alternative spawning habitats by the American horseshoe crab,Limulus polyphemus

Sasson

Chabot

Mattei

et al. 2022

Preprint

Self Cite

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Assessment of recovery potential for the American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus): An application of the IUCN green status process

Smith

Brockmann

Carmichael

et al. 2023

Aquatic Conservation

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According to an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assessment (RLA), the American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus), an iconic coastal species, is at risk of extirpation in some regions within its range where small and vulnerable populations occur. However, the RLA does not consider future status beyond viability and does not attempt to identify the conservation necessary to effectively mitigate threats and recover the species to full ecological functionality. To aid in conservation planning for vulnerable species, the IUCN developed the Green Status of Species assessment (GSA) process to complement the RLA. This paper describes the application of the GSA process to assess the recovery potential of the American horseshoe crab. First, specific Limulus populations within spatial units for conservation were delineated, and their statuses were defined based on viability and ecological functionality. Then conservation actions were identified that would promote recovery and affect their near‐ and long‐term population status under different conservation scenarios. Horseshoe crab conservation has relied on, and will continue to depend on, effective harvest regulation. However, as currently conceived, conservation is not expected to mitigate habitat loss at the scale required to restore range‐wide ecological functionality, primarily because habitat loss is widespread and affected by climate change. Thus, the GSA results, while indicating that there is potential for near‐term recovery gains, reveal that long‐term recovery is in doubt owing to expected loss of habitat. To conserve critical habitats for spawning and early life stages and achieve ecological functionality, it is imperative to identify and develop conservation plans at appropriate spatial scales. Unfortunately, such plans do not currently exist and need to be established. The GSA Green Score can then serve as a metric for monitoring recovery and gauging the effectiveness of conservation implementation.

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The American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) spawns regularly in salt marshes

Sasson,

Chabot,

Mattei

et al. 2024

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

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While considered ecological generalists in most aspects of their life history, horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) have traditionally been regarded as reproductive habitat specialists, given that spawning is thought to occur primarily on beaches where conditions for embryonic development are considered optimal. Observations of horseshoe crabs spawning in other habitats were deemed isolated and the behavior non‐adaptive. Here, we used spawning and egg surveys to compare the use of beach and salt marsh habitats for spawning by the horseshoe crab in three US states along the Atlantic coast. We found similar spawning and egg densities in both habitats but were more likely to find eggs in marsh habitats, indicating that spawning in marsh habitats is common and geographically widespread. These results suggest that the conservation of salt marshes may be critical for the protection of this species and that management strategies should be revised to incorporate this generalist behavior.

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Assessing the Viability of American Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus) Embryos in Salt Marsh and Sandy Beach Habitats

Cited by 5 publications

References 65 publications

The use of alternative spawning habitats by the American horseshoe crab,Limulus polyphemus

The use of alternative spawning habitats by the American horseshoe crab,Limulus polyphemus

Assessment of recovery potential for the American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus): An application of the IUCN green status process

The American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) spawns regularly in salt marshes

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