The role of crabs (Macrophthalmus japonicus) burrows on organic carbon cycle in estuarine tidal flat, Japan

Otani, Sosuke; Kozuki, Yasunori; Yamanaka, Ryoichi; Sasaoka, Hiromitsu; Ishiyama, Tetsu; Okitsu, Yoshihito; Sakai, Hajime; Fujiki, Yoji

doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2009.07.033

Cited by 56 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Bioturbation affects sympatric benthic animals by sediment disruption (Posey et al 1991, Botto & Iribarne 1999 or stabilization/destabilization (Tamaki et al 1997, Tamaki & Suzukawa 1991) and leads to a reduction in sediment chlorophyll-a (chl-a) . Bioirrigation exerts its effects by extending the oxidation zone (Daleo & Iribarne 2006, Flint & Kalke 1986) and enhancing the decomposition of organic matter , Otani et al 2010. Both these processes happen simultaneously within burrows (Vopel et al 2003(Vopel et al , 2007.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental exclusion of the burrowing crab Macrophthalmus japonicus from an intertidal mud flat: effects on macro-infauna abundance

Tanaka

Horikoshi

Aoki

et al. 2013

Plankton Benthos Res

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Abstract:Bioturbators affect other benthic animals by two processes: sediment reworking and changes in chemical properties. Crab exclusion experiments were conducted on an intertidal mud flat in the Tama estuary to examine the effects of the burrowing crab Macrophthalmus japonicus (Ocypodoidea) on the densities of sympatric macro-infauna in 2010 and 2011; and on sediment parameters in 2011. In 2010, approximately 1 month after M. japonicus was excluded, the densities of Corbicula japonica and Hediste sp. or spp. were significantly greater than those of the control, with M. japonicus present. Concerning sediment parameters: chlorophyll-a content, water content and total nitrogen content at the surface significantly increased and subsurface oxidation-reduction potential significantly decreased in the exclusion treatment compared with control conditions. These results appear to indicate that sediment reworking by M. japonicus was the main process affecting the sedimentary environment and density of C. japonica and Hediste sp. or spp. However, the magnitude of the effects of M. japonicus apparently varies from year to year because there were no significant differences in the densities of any macro-infauna species in 2011.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental exclusion of the burrowing crab Macrophthalmus japonicus from an intertidal mud flat: effects on macro-infauna abundance

Tanaka

Horikoshi

Aoki

et al. 2013

Plankton Benthos Res

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“…It often occurs in high densities (ca. 30-50 ind./ m 2 ; Henmi 1992, Otani et al 2010 on Japanese intertidal mudflats, where it makes J-shaped burrows for refuge from predators. Such burrows are approximately 30 cm in depth, with one large opening (Otani et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such burrows are approximately 30 cm in depth, with one large opening (Otani et al 2010). Because the burrow entrance readily collapses from tidal water movements, M. japonicus constructs a new entrance every two or three days (Otani et al 2010). Accordingly, this species is a major bioturbator on mudflats, and it is classified as a regenerator since it does not change the sediment grain size distribution (Tanaka et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…30-50 ind./ m 2 ; Henmi 1992, Otani et al 2010 on Japanese intertidal mudflats, where it makes J-shaped burrows for refuge from predators. Such burrows are approximately 30 cm in depth, with one large opening (Otani et al 2010). Because the burrow entrance readily collapses from tidal water movements, M. japonicus constructs a new entrance every two or three days (Otani et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of the bioturbating crab <i>Macrophthalmus</i> <i>japonicus</i> on abiotic and biotic tidal mudflat characteristics in the Tama River, Tokyo Bay, Japan

Tanaka

Aoki

Okamoto

2017

Plankton Benthos Res

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Abstract:The burrowing ocypodoid crab Macrophthalmus japonicus, a major bioturbator on Japanese tidal flats, is classified as a regenerator , that reworks the sediment without changing sediment grain distribution. We examined the effects of M. japonicus on abiotic and biotic sediment characteristics through crab exclusion experiments conducted on two adjacent tidal flats in the Tama River, Tokyo Bay, Japan, in 2012 and 2013. Although sediment organic matter content and water content were significantly higher in the exclusion treatment than in the control treatment, the siltclay content did not differ significantly between them. Microphytobenthos (MPB) biomass was affected negatively by M. japonicus feeding, which caused in a high turnover ratio. The experimental results indicated that M. japonicus decreased MPB biomass and maintained high primary production without changing the sediment grain size distribution. This suggests that regenerators affect mudflat abiotic and biotic sediment characteristics in a different manner from other types of bioturbators.

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“…They are a burrowing species that inhabit muddy tidal flats (Otani et al 2010) and are widely distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in Japan (Kitaura et al 2002) and Korea. This species can be used as a biological indicator to measure the environmental impact of natural stresses and human activities (salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen content, sediment toxicant contaminant levels, etc.)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chitinase gene responses and tissue sensitivity in an intertidal mud crab (Macrophthalmus japonicus) following low or high salinity stress

Nikapitiya

Kim

Park

et al. 2015

Cell Stress and Chaperones

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Changes in salinity affect the physiological status of the marine habitat including that of the intertidal mud crab Macrophthalmus japonicus. Chitinases play significant biological roles in crustaceans such as morphogenesis, nutrient digestion, and pathogen defense. In this study, the osmoregulatory function of three chitinase gene transcripts was determined compared to seawater (SW, 31±1 psu) in M. japonicus gills and hepatopancreas under different salinities (10, 25, and 40 psu) for 1, 4, and 7 days. In SW-exposed crab, quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed chitinase 1 (Mj-chi1) and chitinase 4 (Mj-chi4) transcripts constitutively expressed in all the tested tissues with strong expression in hepatopancreas, but chitinase 5 (Mj-chi5) showed highest expression in stomach. When exposed to different salinities, Mj-chi1 showed significant up-regulation at day 4 whereas Mj-chi4 showed late up-regulation (day 7) at all the salinities in hepatopancreas. In the gills, early up-regulation (day 1) in Mj-chi1 and time-dependent late up-regulation (day 7) in Mj-chi4 at high salinity were observed. These results indicate the possibility of using Mj-chi4 as a marker against salinity changes. Moreover, our results further suggest that Mj-chi1 and Mj-chi4 transcriptions were significantly affected by changes in salinity; however, Mj-chi5 in gills was less affected by salinity and showed no effect in hepatopancreas. Thus, chitinase transcription modulations in the gills are more sensitive than hepatopancreas to salinity stress. Further, present data indicate the possible existence of different physiological roles among chitinase gene families, which need to be clarified in more detail by future biochemical and physiological functional studies.

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The role of crabs (Macrophthalmus japonicus) burrows on organic carbon cycle in estuarine tidal flat, Japan

Cited by 56 publications

References 32 publications

Experimental exclusion of the burrowing crab Macrophthalmus japonicus from an intertidal mud flat: effects on macro-infauna abundance

Experimental exclusion of the burrowing crab Macrophthalmus japonicus from an intertidal mud flat: effects on macro-infauna abundance

Effects of the bioturbating crab <i>Macrophthalmus</i> <i>japonicus</i> on abiotic and biotic tidal mudflat characteristics in the Tama River, Tokyo Bay, Japan

Chitinase gene responses and tissue sensitivity in an intertidal mud crab (Macrophthalmus japonicus) following low or high salinity stress

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