Reproductive risk: high mortality associated with spawning by horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) in Delaware Bay, USA

• Published in: Marine biology Vol. 101; no. 2; pp. 143 - 151
• Main Authors: BOTTON, M. L, LOVELAND, R. E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01-04-1989; Berlin
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Limulus polyphemus; Marine; Protozoa. Invertebrata; Xiphosura; USA, New Jersey, Cape May; Marine environment; Reproduction; Intertidal zone; Water level; Arthropoda; Mortality; Merostomata; Environmental factor; Invertebrata; Survival; Limulus polyphemus
• ISSN: 0025-3162; 1432-1793
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00391453

It has been presumed that intertidal spawning by Limulus polyphemus minimizes the loss of eggs to subtidal predators; however, this strategy involves considerable risks. Massive beach strandings of adults accompany seasonal spawning migrations of crabs along Cape May in Delaware Bay, (USA). At least 190,000 horseshoe crabs, approximating 10% of the adult population, died from beach stranding along the New Jersey shore of Delaware Bay during the 1986 (May to June) spawning season. Abnormalities of the telson (which is used in righting behavior) were significantly more common among stranded crabs than among individuals actively spawning on the intertidal beach. The number of stranded crabs per day was not correlated with tidal height or environmental variables (wind speed, wave height) which characterized the conditions at spawning.