The Ecological Importance of Horseshoe Crabs in Estuarine and Coastal Communities: A Review and Speculative Summary

Botton, Mark L.

doi:10.1007/978-0-387-89959-6_3

Cited by 77 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…These shifts are believed to have been caused by the decline in horseshoe and blue crab populations. The drop in these two populations may also correlate to the overall decrease in the number of sea turtles in the Chesapeake Bay over the past few decades (Botton, 2009). In one survey, the sea turtle density in the lower Delaware Bay was comparable to the density of sea turtles in the lower Chesapeake Bay (Spotila et al, 2007), indicating the possibility that loggerheads in this area also feed on horseshoe crabs (Botton, 2009).…”

Section: Environmental Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sustaining the horseshoe crab population is also ecologically essential, as they play key roles as: bioturbators; hosts to a variety of epibionts on their shells; controllers of the population of many benthic invertebrates; and as a food source for a multitude of marine animals (Figure 3) (Botton and Haskin, 1984;Botton and Ropes, 1989;Walls et al, 2002;Botton, 2009). Barnacles, slipper limpets and blue mussels frequently live on the shells of horseshoe crabs, although the relationship is mostly neutral (Botton, 2009).…”

Section: Environmental Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Barnacles, slipper limpets and blue mussels frequently live on the shells of horseshoe crabs, although the relationship is mostly neutral (Botton, 2009). Although they consume a broad, omnivorous diet, adult horseshoe crabs are important predators of benthic invertebrates, such as bivalves, polychaetes, crustaceans and gastropods, with a particular preference for thin-shelled bivalves, like small surf clams and blue mussels (Botton and Haskin, 1984;Botton and Ropes, 1989).…”

Section: Environmental Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In turn, crabs (e.g., blue, fiddler, green and hermit crabs) and pufferfish eat juvenile horseshoe crabs (Walls et al, 2002;Botton, 2009).…”

Section: Environmental Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) is a valuable keystone species distributed across the Atlantic Coast of the United States and the Gulf of Mexico (Botton and Haskin, 1984;Botton and Ropes, 1989;Walls et al, 2002;Botton, 2009;Sekiguchi and Shuster, 2009). Horseshoe crabs play a key role in the eel and whelk fishing industry and an unparalleled, integral part in ensuring environmental safety and that of nearly every drug and medical device in use today (van Holde and Miller, 1995;Loveland et al, 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Role of Horseshoe Crabs in the Biomedical Industry and Recent Trends Impacting Species Sustainability

Dellinger

Kepley

2018

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Every year the Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) arrives on shore to spawn, a sight once taken for granted. However, in addition to the gradual climate changes impacting all ecosystems, commercial demand from the widespread application of Atlantic horseshoe crab blood in industrial endotoxin testing and steady use as eel and whelk bait has brought the future of this enduring species into question. In response, regulations have been adopted to enhance the traceability and record keeping of horseshoe crab harvest, which has historically been difficult to track. However, these regulations do not restrict or limit LAL harvest in any significant manner. Still, sometimes-lethal biomedical bleeding process and associated behavioral changes pose a risk to horseshoe crab viability after bleeding and once returned to the waters. As a result, regulators and environmentalists are concerned that current trends and overfishing of this marine arthropod will significantly impact the surrounding ecosystem. This review examines their role and recent trends in the biomedical industry that are impacting these ancient creatures and the derivative effect on shorebirds, while considering emerging alternatives where feasible, as well as ways to ensure sustainable and pragmatic harvesting strategies. Ultimately, healthy populations of horseshoe crabs are vital to restoring and maintaining ecosystems while balancing the need for medical and research applications entirely dependent on these unique creatures.

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Section: Environmental Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Environmental Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Environmental Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In turn, crabs (e.g., blue, fiddler, green and hermit crabs) and pufferfish eat juvenile horseshoe crabs (Walls et al, 2002;Botton, 2009).…”

Section: Environmental Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Role of Horseshoe Crabs in the Biomedical Industry and Recent Trends Impacting Species Sustainability

Dellinger

Kepley

2018

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Habitat use of globally threatened juvenile Chinese horseshoe crab, Tachypleus tridentatus under the influence of simulated intertidal oyster culture structures in Hong Kong

Kwan

Chan

Cheung

2017

Aquatic Conservation

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1.Little is known about the ecological impacts of oyster culture structures on intertidal communities. In the present study, distribution and movement patterns of juvenile Chinese horseshoe crab, Tachypleus tridentatus were assessed on a mudflat at Ha Pak Nai in Deep Bay, Hong Kong.2. As the traditional bottom-laying method of using concrete posts as cultch for collecting oyster spat is a common practice in Hong Kong, structurally similar bricks were used to simulate the potential effects of cultch on intertidal flats.3. Over the two-month experimental period, all the tested sediment physico-chemical characteristics, including median particle size and total organic content, remained unchanged among the treatment areas. However, juvenile densities and foraging trails at low-and high-density brick areas were significantly lower/shorter compared with the adjacent bare areas. Such effects were more evident for larger individuals since significant correlations were found between foraging distance and juvenile prosomal width in no-brick areas, but not the low-and high-density brick areas. In addition, most juveniles (> 95%) were observed feeding along the outer boundaries of brick areas.4. Such findings imply that the extensive artificial structures in oyster cultivation sites could induce physical disturbance and alter the habitat use of juvenile horseshoe crabs in the intertidal zone. Considering the high conservation value of Chinese horseshoe crabs, appropriate mitigation measures should be implemented to buffer the detrimental effects on horseshoe crabs and other marine organisms of conservation concern that utilize intertidal habitats as nursery and hatchery grounds.

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Socio‐demographic drivers and public perceptions of consumption and conservation of Asian horseshoe crabs in northern Beibu Gulf, China

Huang

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

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Overharvesting Asian horseshoe crabs for food is a primary threat to their populations. In the present study, 451 residents were interviewed from the northern Beibu Gulf, the coastal area that is believed to accommodate the highest density of the Chinese horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus worldwide, to obtain baseline information on their consumption behaviour and underlying drivers. Based on the survey data, it is estimated that a mean individual consumption rate of ten meals per year. Nearly half of the respondents (49.7%) claimed that they had previously eaten at least two horseshoe crab meals. Among the six occupation categories (managers, professionals, workers, environmental‐related workers, fishers and farmers, and students), fishers and farmers were identified as the group that had eaten a significantly higher number of horseshoe crab meals, had consumed them more frequently, and had a greater intention of eating them than that of students. The age, education level, and salary of participants were the important socio‐demographic variables related to their consumption behaviour. More than one‐third of respondents decided to consume horseshoe crabs because they perceived them as tasty ‘seafood’ and valuable ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine. Eighty‐three per cent of participants reported an overall decrease in the number of horseshoe crabs in the region. Although the community was supportive towards horseshoe crab conservation, their ecological knowledge of horseshoe crabs was limited. The findings may be useful for providing insights to merge the gap between scientific data and management planning for the horseshoe crab population in the region. Conservation management initiatives, such as the involvement of fishers in monitoring and enforcement, developing a reporting system for landings and by‐catch, and implementing long‐term conservation education through the school curriculum could promote the protection and management of the population.

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The Ecological Importance of Horseshoe Crabs in Estuarine and Coastal Communities: A Review and Speculative Summary

Cited by 77 publications

References 49 publications

The Role of Horseshoe Crabs in the Biomedical Industry and Recent Trends Impacting Species Sustainability

The Role of Horseshoe Crabs in the Biomedical Industry and Recent Trends Impacting Species Sustainability

Habitat use of globally threatened juvenile Chinese horseshoe crab, Tachypleus tridentatus under the influence of simulated intertidal oyster culture structures in Hong Kong

Socio‐demographic drivers and public perceptions of consumption and conservation of Asian horseshoe crabs in northern Beibu Gulf, China

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