Effects of a Beach Nourishment Project in Jamaica Bay, New York, on Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus) Spawning Activity and Egg Deposition

Botton, Mark L.; Colon, Christina P.; Rowden, John; Elbin, Susan B.; Kriensky, Debra; McKown, Kim A.; Sclafani, Matthew; Madden, Robert C.

doi:10.1007/s12237-017-0337-8

Cited by 18 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Variation in specific attributes of local habitat are important to habitat suitability for horseshoe crabs even among sparse populations on the northern GOM where habitat area does not appear to be limited. Within local habitats, movement to breeding beaches, location of mates, and orientation to food resources depends on fine-scale habitat attributes because sensory cues are effective for horseshoe crabs within short distances, either in the immediate vicinity or up to a few meters away [ 22 , 27 , 66 ]. Previous horseshoe crab surveys have shown large differences in counts among local sites in Florida [ 67 ], reduced counts and limited breeding activity associated with local habitat loss on Long Island, New York [ 68 ], and that some horseshoe crabs remain in localized areas throughout their lifespan [ 67 – 69 ].…”

Section: Conclusion and Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Urbanization that alters shorelines can eliminate spawning and nursery or foraging habitat by reducing the area of sandy beach [ 21 ]. Previous study suggests horseshoe crabs may be particularly sensitive to and slow to recover from changes in habitat geomorphology [ 22 ]. Increased bare land and impervious surfaces [ 23 ], associated runoff and changes to water chemistry, in turn, affect sediment grain size and moisture, which can further affect horseshoe crab spawning behavior and egg development [ 16 , 22 , 24 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous study suggests horseshoe crabs may be particularly sensitive to and slow to recover from changes in habitat geomorphology [ 22 ]. Increased bare land and impervious surfaces [ 23 ], associated runoff and changes to water chemistry, in turn, affect sediment grain size and moisture, which can further affect horseshoe crab spawning behavior and egg development [ 16 , 22 , 24 ]. Urban pollutants such as heavy metals and other contaminants that impair water quality may slow development and cause deformities of juvenile horseshoe crabs [ 25 , 26 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental factors and occurrence of horseshoe crabs in the northcentral Gulf of Mexico

et al. 2021

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This study provides regional-scale data on drivers of horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) presence along the northcentral Gulf of Mexico coast and has implications for understanding habitat suitability for sparse horseshoe crab populations of conservation concern worldwide. To collect baseline data on the relationship between environmental factors and presence of horseshoe crabs, we surveyed four sites from the Fort Morgan peninsula of Mobile Bay, Alabama (AL) to Horn Island, Mississippi (MS). We documented number, size and sex of live animals, molts, and carcasses as metrics of horseshoe crab presence and demographics for two years. Data were compared to in situ and remotely sensed environmental attributes to assess environmental drivers of occurrence during the time of study. Overall, greater evidence of horseshoe crab presence was found at western sites (Petit Bois and Horn Islands) compared to eastern sites (Dauphin Island, Fort Morgan peninsula), mediated by a combination of distance from areas of high freshwater discharge and interannual variation in weather. Higher sex ratios also were found associated with higher occurrence, west of Mobile Bay. Land cover, particularly Bare Land and Estuarine Emergent Wetland classes that are common to western sites, was most predictive of live animal and to some extent carcass occurrence. Our findings suggest that small-scale variation in habitat quality can affect occurrence of horseshoe crabs in sparse populations where density is not a limiting factor. Data from molts and carcasses were informative to supplement live animal data and may be useful to enhance ecological assessment and support conservation and management in regions with sparse populations.

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Section: Conclusion and Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental factors and occurrence of horseshoe crabs in the northcentral Gulf of Mexico

et al. 2021

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“…Two locations in Jamaica Bay, Brooklyn, were sampled from 2011 to 2018. Plumb Beach is located near the mouth of the estuary; Plumb Beach East is a relatively undisturbed site, whereas Plumb Beach West was the location of a US Army Corps of Engineers beach nourishment project in October 2012 (Botton et al, 2018). To estimate total egg density, 30 long cores (3.8 cm diameter, 20 cm length) were taken from the mid-intertidal at Plumb Beach East and Plumb Beach West on three to six sampling dates per year, and 30 additional short cores (3.8 cm diameter, 5 cm length) were taken concurrently.…”

Section: Egg Densitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Spawning densities of female crabs were determined at Plumb Beach East in Jamaica Bay (New York), as described in Botton et al (2018).…”

Section: Horseshoe Crab Spawning Densitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The relationships between spawning horseshoe crabs and egg densities: Recommendations for the assessment of populations and habitat suitability

Botton

Colon

Sclafani

et al. 2021

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Horseshoe crab population sizes and trends have been previously studied using surveys of spawning adults and counts of eggs from surface (top 5 cm) and deep (20 cm) sediment samples. The correlations between surface and deep eggs were studied at two locations, Delaware Bay and Jamaica Bay, USA, and the correlations between egg densities and spawning counts were examined in Jamaica Bay.2. There were significantly higher densities of eggs in deep sediments than in surface sediments. Only about 10% of the variability in surface egg density was explained by deep egg density. The numerical patterns between surface and deep eggs were similar between Delaware Bay and Jamaica Bay and across sampling dates.3. Nearly 20% of the deep samples in the combined data from Delaware Bay and Jamaica Bay with an egg density of ≥100,000 m −2 had zero surface eggs.Therefore, the use of surface eggs as an indicator of habitat suitability and spawning intensity may seriously underestimate the importance of a beach for spawning horseshoe crabs. 4. When paired with nearest survey date, Jamaica Bay spawning indices did not predict deep or surface egg densities. This may be related to a temporal mismatch between survey methods, the extreme overdispersion (patchiness) of the eggs, and/or the dynamics of egg distribution after exhumation. 5. Both egg density and spawning surveys can provide useful data on habitat suitability for horseshoe crabs and can offer excellent opportunities for student and citizen scientist engagement. More labour is required for egg surveys than spawning surveys because of the time required to sample, sort, and enumerate the eggs.

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Spawning habitat suitability maps for the conservation of the tri‐spine horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus in Tsuyazaki Cove, Fukuoka, Japan

Itaya

Koyama

Shuuno³

et al. 2023

Aquatic Conservation

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The suitable spawning habitat of Tachypleus tridentatus was estimated and mapped for the first time using scientific modelling in Tsuyazaki, Fukuoka, Japan. A total of 43 nests were found at five sites from 2018 to 2019. Of these 43 nests, the location information of nine nests at one of the sites was used as ‘Training data’ for constructing the models. A series of procedures was employed to determine the relationship between the biological data and their physical parameters to estimate the suitable spawning habitat. First, the contribution rates of the physical parameters (beach elevation, slope and sediment) to nest locations were evaluated. Second, physical parameters that showed significant contribution rates were chosen to estimate suitable spawning habitats. It was found that the beach elevation was the most significant parameter for estimating suitable spawning habitats. Mean high water neap to mean higher high water was estimated as suitable spawning habitat, and 74% of the nests were fitted in an area assessed as suitable. The result was consistent with previous studies. The area of suitable spawning habitat was estimated to be only 476 m2 out of 1943 m2, comprising 24% of the sandy beach in the study site. Therefore, it was concluded that the conservation and restoration of spawning grounds is a high‐priority and urgent issue at the site. It is proposed that scientific modelling of nest/egg occurrence and beach elevation can effectively determine suitable spawning habitats. Thus, it is possible to quickly establish the habitat most suitable for spawning in coastal environments and help plan conservation strategies for this globally endangered species.

show abstract

Effects of a Beach Nourishment Project in Jamaica Bay, New York, on Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus) Spawning Activity and Egg Deposition

Cited by 18 publications

References 60 publications

Environmental factors and occurrence of horseshoe crabs in the northcentral Gulf of Mexico

Environmental factors and occurrence of horseshoe crabs in the northcentral Gulf of Mexico

The relationships between spawning horseshoe crabs and egg densities: Recommendations for the assessment of populations and habitat suitability

Spawning habitat suitability maps for the conservation of the tri‐spine horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus in Tsuyazaki Cove, Fukuoka, Japan

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