Seasonal movements of American horseshoe crabs Limulus polyphemus in the Great Bay Estuary,New Hampshire (USA)

The goal of this study was to determine the year round movement patterns of American horseshoe crabs, Limulus polyphemus, in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire （USA） by using acoustic telemetry to track the movements of 37 adult Limulus, for periods ranging from 2 to 31 months. During the winter （December-March） horseshoe crabs moved very little. In the spring, when water temperatures exceeded II^C, horseshoe crabs moved at least 1 km further up into the estuary to shallower subtidal areas about a month prior to spawning. The mean distance traveled during spring migrations was 2.6 ＋ 0.5 （n=20） km up the estuary. Mating occurred in May and June and during these months animals spent most of their time in shallow subtidal areas adjacent to mating beaches. In the summer （July-Augnst）, animals moved 1.5 ± 0.5 （n=26） km down the estuary, towards the ocean, and ranged widely, using extensive portions of the estuary. In the fall （September-November） movement was more limited （0.5 ± 0.5 km; n = 24） while animals settled into wintering locations, where they remained until spring. The mean annual linear range for all animals was 4.5 ± 0.3 km （n =35） and the maximum distance traveled by an individual horseshoe crab within one year was 9.2 km. There was no evidence that any of the horseshoe crabs tracked during this study left the estuary

Seasonal movement of the American horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus in a semi-enclosed bay on Cape Cod,Massachusetts (USA) as determined by acoustic telemetry

American horseshoe crabs Limulus polyphemus were tracked using acoustic telemetry and traditional tagging in a semi-enclosed bay on Cape Cod （Pleasant Bay）, Massachusetts, USA, to determine seasonal movement patterns. Fifty-five actively spawning females were fitted with transmitters in 2008 and 2009 and were tracked using acoustic telemetry from May 2008 through July 2010. Fil^een crabs with transmitters also had archive depth-temperature tags attached. In addition, over 2000 spawning crabs （males and females） were tagged with US Fish and Wildlife CIdSFWS） button tags over the same period. Ninety-one percent of the crabs with transmitters were detected during this study. In the spring, crabs were primarily located in the northern section of the bay near spawning beaches, whereas in the fall crabs moved towards the deeper portions of the bay, and some may have overwIntered in the bay. There was evidence that a majority （58%-71%） of the females with transmitters spawned in two sequential seasons. One archive tag was recovered resulting in a year-long continuous record of depth and tem- perature data that, when integrated with telemetry data, indicated that the crab overwintered in the bay. The live recapture rate of crabs with USFWS button tags was 11%, with all re-sighted crabs except one observed inside Pleasant Bay. Eighty-three percent of recaptures were found within 2.5kin of the tagging location, and 51% were observed at the same beach where they were tagged. This study provides further evidence that horseshoe crabs in Pleasant Bay may be philopatric to this embayment

Developmental ecology of the American horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus

During spawning events, horseshoe crab eggs are released from the female＇s oviducts, and fertilized by one or more males. Eggs are shaped by the female into discrete clutches deposited in nests at depths of 10-20 cm on intertidal estuarine beaches. Distinguishing between fxesh eggs and the early developmental stages is obfuscated by the large amount of dense, opaque yolk. The first unambiguous confirmation of development is the formation of the rudimentary prosomatie appendages at the ＂limb bud＂ stage. Several days thereafter, the outer chorion is shed and the developing embryo expands and undergoes a series of molts within the clear inner egg membrane. The trilobite （first iustar） stage thus attained may remain within the beach sedi- ments for several more weeks, until hatching is facilitated by environmental factors such as hydration, agitation, and osmotic shock that accompany the infiltration of seawater into the nests. Trilobites exhibit endogenous eirgatidal swimming rhythms that are entrained by mechanical agitation, suggesting that peaks in larval swimming are timed to coincide with periods of high water and the inundation of the nests. Larval swimming is limited and does not appear to result in long-distance dispersal. The limited dispersal of the larvae has important implications for the population dynamics of relatively isolated populations. The rate of larval development is highly plastic and is influenced by temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and the presence of pollutants. The broad environmental tolerances of horseshoe crab embryos and larvae are important in understanding their current geographic distribution and their evolutionary persistence

Male horseshoe crabs Limulus polyphemus use multiple sensory cues to locate mates

The use of multisensory cues to locate mates can increase an organism＇s success by acting as a back-up plan when one system fails, by providing additional information to the receiver, and by increasing their ability to detect mates using senses that have different ranges in a variable aquatic environment. In this contribution we review the sensory cues that male horseshoe crabs Lirnulus polyphemus are known to use when locating mates and then provide new data that shed light on this subject. Dur- ing the breeding season, females migrate into shore during high tides to spawn. Males attach to females as they approach the beach or are attracted to pairs already spawning. Vision is well established as an important cue in attracting males. Although chemoreception is well known in other marine arthropods, and horseshoe crabs have the anatomy available, there are few studies on chemical cues in this species. Experiments are presented here that provide evidence for chemical cue use. We show that the attraction, and retention, of attached and satellite males to actively spawning females and mating pairs involves multimodal cues

The Sediment and Hydrographic Characteristics of Three Horseshoe Crab Nursery Beaches in Hong Kong

Horseshoe crab juveniles have been recorded from sand and sandy-mud nursery beaches at Pak Nai (western New Territories), San Tau and Shui Hau (Lantau Island), Hong Kong. In order to provide a better understanding of these beaches and to identify those plausible factors which have made them preferred by spawning horseshoe crabs, environmental parameters, including temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen content of the water, and particle size distribution and organic matter content of the sediments at the three sites, were determined and compared. The hydrographic and sediment data obtained for the three study sites have revealed some common environmental features. The three nursery beaches are relatively remote, and far (in Hong Kong terms) from urbanized and densely populated areas. The beaches are generally well sheltered from strong wave action and inundated regularly by estuarine waters. Horseshoe crab adults tend to select these beaches for spawning as their protected features ensures the laid eggs are less likely to be washed out of the sand, and hatched juveniles can feed on the meiofauna and grow. Sediments of the three beaches largely comprise medium-sized sand particles and are moderately sorted, suggesting medium porosity and good water permeability. Such a sand type, with the generally high oxygen levels in incursing waters, may help create a well-oxygenated micro-environment for the normal development of horseshoe crab eggs, larvae and juveniles. Lantau Island beaches at San Tau and Shui Hau are relatively free from organic pollution, as reflected in generally high dissolved oxygen level, and low BOD 5 and ammonia nitrogen values. Pak Nai is, however, more polluted.

Effect of Intertidal Elevation at Tsuyazaki Cove,Fukuoka,Japan on Survival Rate of Horseshoe Crab Tachypleus tridentatus Eggs

Physical factors affecting the survival of Tachypleus tridentatus eggs were investigated by translocating their eggs between the high intertidal zone and the low intertidal zone of a known spawning site.The mean egg survival rates per day were highest in the mid intertidal zone(45.1%±25.4%)and the lowest in the low intertidal zone(13.3%±27.6%).Differences in the elevation,air exposure time,and water content of the spawning ground were significant factors determining the egg survival rates.Excessive or insufficient air exposure time resulted in inadequate water content at higher and lower intertidal zones and could reduce egg survival.On the other hand,moderate saturation and dehydration were repeated with each tidal movement in the mid intertidal zone.This dynamic is considered as one of the crucial factors for the survival of eggs and is considered optimal for spawning.Therefore,the protection of the mid intertidal zone is imperative for maximizing the egg survival rate in Tsuyazaki Cove where almost all suitable nesting sites have disappeared due to coastal development.By protecting these optimal sites for spawning and recovering other optimal sites on suitable beaches,a positive contribution can be made to future management and conservation.The study also suggests that translocating eggs from marginal to optimal spawning sites might be a recovery strategy for this globally endangered species.

Comparison of the Macrozoobenthic Community and Sedimentary Environment with and Without Horseshoe Crab Presence in the Crocodile Island Intertidal Zone,Xiamen,China

In order to compare the macrozoobenthic community and sedimentary environment with and without the presence of horseshoe crabs,the benthic macrofauna,sediment grain size,chromium(Cr),cobalt(Co),nickel(Ni),polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon(PAHs),organic carbon and nitrogen were seasonally investigated at site A(with horseshoe crab presence),sites B and C(without horseshoe crab presence)in the Crocodile Island intertidal zone in Xiamen from June 2018 to July 2019.The results showed that most of the community parameters of benthic macrofauna,population parameters of common benthic macrofauna and environmental parameters were significantly different at the sites with horseshoe crab versus non-horseshoe crab sites.A two-way ANOVA test showed that the densities of Ceratonereis erythraeensis and Sigambra hanaokai had significant site variation.Cluster and nonmetric multi-dimensional scaling(NMDS)analysis showed the community composition of benthic macrofauna was significantly different among the three sampling sites over four seasons.The mean sand content at site A(64.32%)was higher than those at site B(36.01%)and site C(18.86%).Conversely,the mean contents of silt,clay,Cr,Co,Ni,organic carbon,organic nitrogen,phenanthrene,and pyrene at site A were lower than those at site B and site C.These observations are consistent with the expected preferences of horseshoe crabs to live in areas with 60%sand content,which is associated with abundant and edible clamworms in the Crocodile Island intertidal zone,Xiamen.

High Microplastic Contamination in Juvenile Tri-Spine Horseshoe Crabs:A Baseline Study of Nursery Habitats in Northern Beibu Gulf,China

Microplastics(MPs)are ubiquitous in marine sedimentary environments.Their occurrence in horseshoe crabs and interactions with the sedimentary environment has not been determined.In this study,MPs,mostly microfibers,were found in all extracted gastrointestinal tract(GIT)samples of the juvenile Tachypleus tridentatus from the northern Beibu Gulf,China.The MP concentrations(4–53 items ind-1)were higher than those in most marine benthic invertebrates(<15 items ind-1)reported in Chinese waters,despite their generally low level in habitat sediments(9–1818 items kg-1).The correlation between the juveniles and sediments was not evident,but the abundance in juvenile horseshoe crab GITs decreased with ages.The findings were relevant to the life-history characteristics of the species,typically with limited dispersal capability and their spending nine years or longer time living in mangrove wetlands during low tides,with apparent ontogenetic changes in their diets.These baseline data enable a better understanding of MP availability in benthic macroinvertebrates,and the ecological risks present in the ecosystems.

Death rate due to horseshoe crab poisoning:summarization on Thai reports

Horseshoe crab can be poisonous and intoxication due to intake of horseshoe crab is possible.Horseshoe crab intoxication can be seen in many countries with seacoasts including Thailand.Here,the authors summarized the death rate due to horseshoe crab poisoning in Thailand.

Circadian regulation of Limulus visual functions:A role for octopamine and cAMP

The purpose of this contribution is to review our current understanding of the source and biochemistry of the circadian efferent input to the eyes of the American horseshoe crab Limuluspolyphemus and the impact of this input on the structure, physiology and biochemistry of Limulus eyes. Special emphasis is given to the role of the biogenic amine octopamine and bio- chemical cascades it activates in the eyes. In addition to reviewing published data, we present new data showing that octopamine elevates cAMP levels in Limulus lateral eyes, and we partially characterize the pharmacology of the receptors involved in this response. We also present new data showing that octopamine regulates gene expression in Limulus lateral eyes by activating a cAMP cascade

The ＂MIZBERING＂ Zuibaiji Conference - A Search for Continuity in the Zuibaiji River Basin-

The Zuibaiji River is located in the west of Fukuoka city, which has a rich natural resources and history but various problems as well. In order to solve some of these problems, stakeholders need to observe and talk about the river. Also recently, the ＂MIZBERING Project＂ has been opening up possibilities for renewing riverside uses of lost activities from the old days in Japan. This project is being conducted by citizens, companies and government administrations with an interest in waterside areas. The First MIZBER1NG Zuibaiji River Conference was held to discuss the issues of the Zuibaiji Basin. Its purpose was to visit and search out the nature and history of the entire Zuibaiji Basin from its mountains to the sea and to rediscover the Zuibaiji Basin, and finally to discuss future plans for the Zuibaiji Basin and Imazu Tidal Flat at its outlet. After visiting the Zuibaiji Basin, we discovered a problem that the Zubaiji Dam is holding not only water but also sand, and this problem affects the environment of the Zuibaiji Basin, such as its ecosystem and topography. Finally, we provided a venue for the local people to discuss problems and future plans for the Zuibaiji Basin.