Mentor/s
Jennifer H. Mattei, Ph.D.
Participation Type
Poster
Abstract
The American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus), is an economically and ecologically important species that lives throughout Long Island Sound. They are used as bait, and pharmaceutical companies produce medical products from their blood. Two no-harvest zones were established in 2006 by the State of CT in hopes of preventing population decline. An annual census of the spawning adult population by SHU students and citizen scientist volunteers since then was conducted May-June during high tides of full and new moons. Additional population dynamic information was collected including mating patterns and age structure. The spawning population is declining and varies by year and by beach. The population is aging, less than 6% of adults observed were newly molted (2016-2021). The main causes include overharvest, pollution, climate change, and habitat loss. New management regulations are warranted in order to bring population numbers back up. This species low spawning numbers has removed it from the food web of Long Island Sound with little to no eggs available to fish shorebirds, and marine invertebrates. This is known as a functional extinction event.
College and Major available
Biology
Location
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building
Start Day/Time
4-29-2022 1:00 PM
End Day/Time
4-29-2022 4:00 PM
Prize Categories
Most Scholarly Impact or Potential, Best Visuals, Most Creative
Are Horseshoe Crabs, Limulus polyphemus, Functionally Extinct in Long Island Sound?
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building
The American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus), is an economically and ecologically important species that lives throughout Long Island Sound. They are used as bait, and pharmaceutical companies produce medical products from their blood. Two no-harvest zones were established in 2006 by the State of CT in hopes of preventing population decline. An annual census of the spawning adult population by SHU students and citizen scientist volunteers since then was conducted May-June during high tides of full and new moons. Additional population dynamic information was collected including mating patterns and age structure. The spawning population is declining and varies by year and by beach. The population is aging, less than 6% of adults observed were newly molted (2016-2021). The main causes include overharvest, pollution, climate change, and habitat loss. New management regulations are warranted in order to bring population numbers back up. This species low spawning numbers has removed it from the food web of Long Island Sound with little to no eggs available to fish shorebirds, and marine invertebrates. This is known as a functional extinction event.
Students' Information
Ann Bassey, Biology Major on Pre-Medical Track, Honors Student, December 2023