Burrow Morphology of Three Species of Fiddler Crab {Uca) Along the Coast
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Belg. J. Zool, 142 (2) : 114-126 July 2012 Burrow morphology of three species of fiddler crab{Uca) along the coast of Pakistan Naureen Aziz Qureshi1 & Noor Us Saher2 * 1 Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Government College University, Faisalabad Aliama Iqbal Road 38000, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Email: [email protected]. 2 Centre of Excellence in Marine Biology, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan. Email:[email protected] . * Corresponding author:[email protected] . ABSTRACT. Burrowing by crabs is an important component of their functional role in mangrove biotopes. The Fiddler crab {Uca) is one of the more conspicuous burrowing organisms in the mangrove areas of Pakistan. To evaluate interspecific differences in burrowing behaviour between three speciesUca of (U. annulipes, U. chlorophthalmus and U. sindensis), we compared vegetation cover, sediment composition and burrow morphology by using plaster of Paris casts. Five burrow morphology characters were measured (burrow number, depth, length, volume, and diameter of the burrow openings). Nearly all the morphological characters of the burrows differed significantly between species. The burrow morphology variations were correlated with the tidal level (distance from the water mark during low tide), porosity, percent organic matter, vegetation cover and structure of the sediments. The species-specific differences in the burrows cautions against generalizing regarding the functional role of fiddler crabs along the coast of Pakistan. KEYWORDS: burrows, fiddler crab, ecosystem engineer, biotopes, burrow cast, tidal height. INTRODUCTION of the sediment are known as ‘bioturbationk The bioturbation and fecal pellet production of Fiddler crabs are semi-terrestrial organisms fiddler crabs in mangroves have been described that may influence the sediment structure and(W a r r e n & U n d e r w o o d , 1986; D y e & other living communities mainly through their L a s ia k , 1986; Sk o v et al., 2002; B a r t o l in i burrowing and feeding activities(T e a l , 1958). et al., 2011). They result in increased growth Fiddler crabs construct their burrows actively of the cord grass, Spartina alterniflora, in salt in the intertidal zone from coarse beach sand marshes (M o n t a g u e , 1980; 1984; B e r t n e s s , to fine clay-rich marshy mud during low tide. 1985). The resulting biogenic structures and the The digging of burrows begins when the crabs engineering processes involved in constructing are very small (H y m a n , 1922; H e r r n k in d , and maintaining burrows generate complex 1968). The digging behavior of fiddler crabs has interactions associated with trophic webs(R e is e , been described by various authors(A l t e v o g t , 2002; K r is t e n s e n , 2008). 1955; C r a n e , 1975). These crabs are known to adjust their burrowing activities to a variety Burrows are important to fiddler crabs for of conditions, such as stem density, root mata number of functions, allowing them to density, substratum, water, ground temperature,adopt a semi-terrestrial existence and avoid tidal periodicity, reproductive activity, threat by environmental stresses by behavioral means potential predators, seasons and mate display (A t k in s o n & T a y l o r , 1988). Fiddler crabs activities (R in g o l d , 1979; B e r t n e s s , 1985; excavate burrows in the sediment, to avoid G e n o n i, 1991). Faunally-mediated disturbances excessive wave action and obtain relief from hot of the physical, chemical and biological structure and cold ambient temperatures and desiccation Burrow morphology of fiddler crabs from Pakistan 115 (Hyatt & Salmon, 1979; Bertness & the burrow with respect to the shoreline. General M i l l e r , 1984; Lim & Diong, 2003). Burrows burrow design has been studied in several species provide a refuge from both aerial and terrestrial of the fiddler crab includingUca pugilator predators during exposed periods and from (Dembowski, 1926; C h r i s t y , 1982), U. rapax aquatic predators during flooding, water for (G e n o n i,1991), U pugnax r(G a y , 1942; K a tz , physiological needs, and also sites for molting 1980; Bertness & M iller, 1984), U. panacea and reproduction(Hyatt & Salmon, 1979; (currently synonymous U.with pugnax see K a tz , 1980; C h r i s t y , 1982; T h u r m a n ,1984; P o w e r s , 1975),U. longisignalis, U. spinicarpa, Bertness & M iller, 1984; G e n o n i, 1991; U. vocator, U. subcylindrica ( T h u r m a n ,1984), Lim & Diong, 2003; Lim , 2006; M i l n e r et al., U. tangeri (WOLFRATH, 1992),U. annulipes and 2010). U. vocans (Lim & DlONG, 2003; Lim , 2006). The architecture of the burrows plays an We hypothesized that the morphology of the important ecological role in the life history of burrows would vary between the three species fiddler crabs as they are semi-terrestrial and active of fiddler crabs, U. anmdipes, U. sindensis and at low tide, returning to their burrows at high U. chlorophthalmus, as they prefer biotopes tide. Since the burrow is a place of refuge from varying in tidal height, vegetation and sediment predators, its structure must be advantageous tocomposition. There has been no previous the crab when it is necessary to make a hasty comparative study of the burrow morphology retreat when pursued or threatened. Especially in of fiddler crabs along the coast of Pakistan. In anoxic sediments burrows have greater ecological the present study, we investigated differences in significance as they help to improve the aeration structural morphology and complexity of three of the sediments. Burrow morphology has been species of fiddler crab burrows in their respective described by using plaster of Paris, rubber, or biotopes to identify the relationship of burrow epoxy resin casts. General burrow morphologymorphology ofUca species according to their varies in diameter, depth, volume, and angle of habitat found along the coast of Pakistan. PAKISTAN 26' Indus River, Karachi Sandspit 24° Korangi Creek ARABIAN SEA 22° 62° 64° 66° 68° Fig. 1. - Coastline map of Pakistan showing the study sites i.e. Sandspit and Korangi creek mangrove areas. 116 N.A. Qureshi &N.U. Saher MATERIAL AND METHODS and it was quite difficult to determine which burrow belonged to which crab species without Study sites identifying a pure distribution patch of each species. In this study the burrow cast data for Two sites, Sandspit and Korangi creek, were U. annulipes and U. chlorophthalmus were selected for the study based on the presence collected from the two different stations of of separate patches of three species of fiddler Sandspit and data forU. sindensis were collected crabs (Fig. 1). These sites differed markedly in from Korangi creek mangrove area. The plaster terms of vegetation, tidal height and sediment casts were found to be perfect for measuring the properties, related to the habitat preferences of diameter, total length, total depth and volume of the respective species. the burrows. Site 1 Burrow casts were made for the three species viz: U. sindensis, U. chlorophthalmus and The Sandspit backwaters mangrove area is U. annulipes. At selected sites, counts of open located at (24°50’N, 66°56’E) south west of burrows were first conducted as these indicate Karachi. The backwater is connected to the the number of burrows present beneath the Arabian Sea through the Man ora Channel. surface. The burrow-opening density within the Sandspit beach is divided by a strip of dry distribution area of each species was estimated land, with mud flats and mangrove vegetation by randomly locating0.25 m2 quadrats (6 found on the northern side, and sandy coastreplicates). The total number of open burrows on its south. The dense vegetation comprises within each quadrat was counted. In each quadrat a monospecific stand of the mangrove species three or four burrows were randomly selected for Avicennia marina. casts. Site 2 Aqueous solution of plaster of Paris was poured into the selected crab burrows with The second study site was located (24°79’N, the help of a syringe until the burrows were 67°20’E) in the Korangi creek mangrove area near completely filled, then allowed to dry for30 to the salt works in the fishing village of Ibrahim 60 minutes(W a r b u r g & Sh u c h m a n , 1978). Hyderi. The northernmost creeks of the Indus If the crab emerged during this process, it was Delta are the Korangi and Phitti creeks of which hand picked and placed in a marked poly bag for Korangi creek is 12 km from Karachi Harbour further analyses. The casts were then carefully and 9 km from Quaidabad. Korangi creek is dug up by hand, or with a spade in the case of connected at its northeastern end with Phitti and hard substratum, then cleaned to remove as much Kadiro creeks, while at its southwestern end, it sediment as possible from the surface of the cast. connects with open sea and with Gizri creek, and Each cast was separately placed in pre-marked the study area is bounded by extensive mangrovepoly bags and brought back to the laboratory for vegetation ofA. marina. further analyses. After the casts were dug out, the area within each quadrat was excavated to Field Methodology a depth of 30 cm and the crabs were collected to calculate the relationship between the density The identification of the burrow is an important of crabs and crab burrows. Three sediment issue in the study of burrow morphology ofcores (up to30 cm in depth) were also taken Uca species with sympatric distribution.