Seasonal abundance, distribution and recruitment of mud crabs (Scylla spp.) in replanted mangroves

The abundance and distribution of mud crabs were studied in a replanted mangrove forest in Buswang, Aklan, Philippines. Two fishing gears, lift nets and bamboo traps, were used to monitor relative abundance of Scylla spp. populations from March 2002 to December 2003 inside the mangrove forest. A third gear, a stakenet set across a creek, was used to monitor crabs migrating out of the mangroves during the ebb tide. Scylla olivacea formed 99.3% and 70.3% of the catch in the mangrove and the stakenet, respectively. The percentage of Scylla tranquebarica increased from <1% in the mangrove catches to 29% in the stakenet. Scylla serrata was present at very low levels in both catches. The lack of modal progression in the size–frequency plots and the year-round catch rate of gravid females suggested that recruitment was constant throughout the year. Even though relative abundance decreased over the study period indicating that the stock is being over-exploited, mud crab production is more than equivalent to that of most natural mangroves.     

东海南部海域蟹类种类组成及分布特征

本文根据1998年5月(春)、8月(夏)、11月(秋)和1999年2月(冬)在东海南部海域的蟹类资源调查资料,结合近年相关渔业调查数据,研究分析了该渔场蟹类的种类组成、地理和区系分布及其数量分布的特点.结果表明该渔场蟹类有63种,隶属13科、38属,以热带和亚热带暖水性种为主,属印度-西太平洋区系中的中-日亚区,与南海关系最为密切,而与黄、渤海关系较为疏远.蟹类分布遍及整个调查海区,但时空分布差异明显,调查海区东南部和沿27°45′N一带海域,平均资源密度指数以夏季最高,达276.8kg/km2,秋季最低,仅为40.1kg/km2;同时蟹类数量分布与水深有较大的关系,以水深100~120m海域数量最大,这与主要种类细点圆趾蟹的分布海域区域明显相关;具有开发利用价值的经济种类有十几种,其渔获量占蟹类总渔获量83%,在渔业产量中占主导地位的为细点圆趾蟹、光掌、锈斑和武士等.     

Are fiddler crabs potentially useful ecosystem engineers in mangrove wastewater wetlands?

The effect of different organic-rich sewage concentration (0%, 20% and 60% diluted in seawater) and absence or presence of mangrove trees on the survival, bioturbation activities and burrow morphology of fiddler crabs species was assessed. After 6 months, males of both species always showed higher survival (80%) when compared to females (20%). Crabs inhabiting pristine conditions achieved higher survival (67–87%) than those living in sewage-exposed mesocosms (40–71%). At 60% sewage loading, fiddler crabs processed less sediment (34–46%) during feeding and excavated slightly more sediment (45–80%) than at pristine conditions. While percent volume of the burrow chambers increased (13–66%) at contaminated mesocosms for both vegetation conditions, burrows were shallower (33%) in bare cells loaded with sewage. The results show that fiddler crabs presented moderate mortality levels in these artificial mangrove wetlands, but mainly in sewage impacted cells. However, they still function as ecosystem engineers through bioturbation activities and burrow construction.     

Intraspecific Interactions and Risk of Predation for Dyspanopeus sayi (Decapoda: Xanthidae) Living on Polychaete (Filograna implexa,Serpulidae) Colonies*

Abstract. Along the Atlantic coast of the United States, the mud crab Dyspanopeus sayi frequently occurs in crevices and depressions within aggregated calcareous tubes (termed “heads”) of the serpulid polychaete Filograna implexa. In New Jersey, U.S.A., waters, crab number was significantly correlated with the logarithm of worm tube colony volume. Laboratory experiments suggested that crabs compete for shelter within worm colonies. Additional laboratory experiments indicated that colony occupancy greatly decreased the risk of predation by blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus), and field tethering experiments also demonstrated that colony occupancy significantly decreased predation risk. Thus, the consequence of holding space on worm tube heads is a greatly increased probability of survival.     

Effects of a high rise building on wind flow and beach characteristics at Atlantic City, NJ, USA

This study assesses the effects of a high rise building on the beach and dune at an intensively developed shoreline through field investigation of geomorphological and sedimentological characteristics and wind tunnel investigation of wind speed and direction. Results indicate that wind speed is increased close to the building, where wind is often deflected to a more onshore direction. Obliquely offshore northwesterly winds are the most dramatically altered and cause onshore flows (with pronounced upward flows) in the landward portion of the beach near the building. Onshore deflections in wind direction cause besanding of the boardwalk and create highly localized scour and deposition zones. A dune on the backbeach breaks up zones of sediment transport and scour and diminishes the likelihood that scour areas will cause increased hazard to landward buildings as a result of flooding. Generic large-scale studies are required to develop criteria for communities to use to specify optimum dimensions, locations and shapes of landforms that are modified or created by high rise structures.     

Implementing geostatistical analysis to study spatio-temporal distribution patterns of swimming crabs(Portunus trituberculatus)

This study attempted to compare the performance of local polynomial interpolation,inverse distance weighted interpolation,and ordinary kriging in studying distribution patterns of swimming crabs.Cross-validation was used to select the optimum method to get distribution results,and kriging was used for making spatial variability analysis.Data were collected from 87 sampling stations in November of 2015(autumn) and February(winter),May(spring) and August(summer) of 2016.Results indicate that swimming crabs widely distributed in autumn and summer:in the summer,they were more spatially independent,and resources in each sampling station varied a lot;in the winter and spring,the abundance of crabs was much lower,but the individual crab size was bigger,and they showed the patchy and more concentrative distribution pattern,which means they were more spatially dependent.Distribution patterns were in accordance with ecological migration features of swimming crabs,which were affected by the changing marine environment.This study could infer that it is applicable to study crab fishery or even other crustacean species using geostatistical analysis.It not only helps practitioners have a better understanding of how swimming crabs migrate from season to season,but also assists researchers in carrying out a more comprehensive assessment of the fishery.Therefore,it may facilitate advancing the implementation in the pilot quota management program of swimming crabs in northern Zhejiang fishing grounds.     

蟹类微卫星DNA标记的筛选及其在遗传学研究中的应用

微卫星DNA标记是近年来最受研究者青睐的分子标记之一.由于其具有高度多态性、共显性遗传、基因组中含量丰富且随机分布等特点,已被应用于种群分化研究、亲缘分析、基因连锁分析、进化以及生态学研究等许多领域.近年来,蟹类微卫星的研究报道日益增多.文中对蟹类微卫星分离方法、引物设计、遗传学特性以及在种群遗传、家系分析、遗传多样性评价等方面的最新研究进展进行综述,并分析微卫星分析中无效等位基因(null allele)、"结巴"带(stutter bands)和上游等位基因"扩增丢失"现象(upper allelic dropout)的产生原因以及对微卫星基因型判读带来的影响.     

Estimation of rock physicomechanical properties using hardness methods

The purpose of this study is to investigate the statistical relationship between hardness value and physicomechanical properties of constructional and cover rocks. The definition, measurement of hardness and classification of the rocks used are very important in construction sector. From this point of view, rock hardness is one of the most important parameters for the determination of rock properties. In this study, the determination of hardness and the physicomechanical properties of constructional and cover rocks in Çukurova region was accomplished using various methods in the laboratory. Statistical relations between physicomechanical properties and hardness of rocks were also determined. High correlations were found between the hardness methods (Shore Scleroscope, Schmidt hammer hardness), which are cheap and easy to use, and other physical and mechanical properties. It was found that physicomechanical properties can be estimated using hardness methods and compared with the calculated value from different empirical equations.     

Molting as a mechanism of depuration of metals in the fiddler crab, Uca pugnax

Metal distributions in the exoskeleton and soft tissues of the fiddler crab, Uca pugnax, were examined during intermolt and immediate postmolt to determine if distribution of the metals changed prior to molting and to determine if molting is a feasible mechanism to depurate metals. Fiddler crabs were collected from two locations in New Jersey, a highly contaminated site and a relatively clean environment. The crabs from the contaminated site had higher concentrations of metals in their soft tissues for Cu, significantly higher concentrations of Pb in their soft tissues and carapace, but did not have any significant differences in concentrations of Zn in comparison to their conspecifics from the relatively clean site during intermolt. Crabs from the contaminated site has significantly higher levels of Cu, Pb, and Zn in both their soft tissues and exuvia immediately after molting. Crabs from both sites shifted copper and zinc from the carapace into the soft tissues prior to molting. Lead distribution shifted from the soft tissues to the exoskeleton prior to molting in the population from the contaminated site but shifted from the exoskeleton into the soft tissues for the relatively clean site. Average percent of the total body burden eliminated during the molting process for the highly contaminated site varied with each metal, 12% Cu, 76% Pb, and 22% Zn. Average percent of the total body burden eliminated during molting process for the relatively clean site also varied with each metal and was significantly lower than the conspecifics from the contaminated site, 3% Cu, 56% Pb, and 8% Zn. Molting can reduce overall body burdens significantly and is a feasible mechanism to depurate lead.