Burrow Morphological Characteristics of Episesarma mederi (H. Milne Edwards, 1853) (Decapoda, Grapsidae, Sesarminae)
Abstract
Burrow morphological characteristics of the mangrove crabs, Episesarma mederi (H. Milne Edwards, 1853), in Prince of Songkla University, Pattani campus mangrove forest was studied. Average density of burrow was 9.32±4.21 burrows per square meter. Burrows of these crabs were not found in mudflat zone. Burrow opening was classified as 2 types. The first type of the burrow opening was liked a cup or cone shape, with 2-18 cm in diameter. Diameter of burrow surface is large following the burrow size. The surface of the most burrows was no more than 20 cm. The thickness of the burrow surface was ranged from 0-15 cm. The most burrow sizes were 5-10 cm. The second type was liked a molehill, the burrows in this nature can be subdivided into 2 types, single and multiple molehill types. The height of single molehill type was 20-53 cm and the burrow opening diameters were ranged from 4-12 cm. The radius burrow openings were 4-17 cm and the diameters of the width of hill base were 26-97 cm. While the diameter of the multiple molehill type was 60-213 cm with the highest at 75 cm. The radius of the burrow opening was up to 32 cm. There were 3-4 hill top and some of the molehill type showed 40 burrows. Moreover, these crabs were found to create 5 different structural burrow forms, those were I-shape, L-shape, S-shape, Y-shape, and ฯ-shape, which the depth of the burrows was ranged between 15-156 cm with 30o-90o is inclination angle, and the most burrows presented 1-5 chamber.Keywords : burrow, sesarmid, mangrove forest, PattaniReferences
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Chan, B.K.K., Chan, K.K.Y. & Leung, P.C.M. (2006). Burrow architecture of the ghost crab Ocypode ceratophthalma on a sandy shore in Hong Kong. Hydrobiologia, 560(1), 43-49.
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Eshky, A.A., Atkinson, R.J.A. & Taylor, A.C. (1995). Physiological ecology of crabs from Saudi Arabian mangrove. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 126, 83–95.
Gillikin, D.P. & Kamanu, C.P. (2005). Burrowing in the East African mangrove crab, Chiromantes ortmanni (Crosnier, 1965) (Decapoda, Brachyura, Sesarmidae). Crustaceana, 78, 1273–1275.
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Griffis, R.B. & Suchanek, T.H. (1991). A model of burrow architecture and trophic modes in thalassinidean shrimp (Decapoda: Thalassinidea). Marine Ecology Progress Series, 79, 171–183.
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Morrisey, D.J., DeWitt, T.H., Roper, D.S. & Williamson, R.B. (1999). Variation in the depth and morphology of burrows of the mud crab Helice crassa among different types of intertidal sediment in New Zealand. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 182, 231-242.
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Qureshi, N.A. & Saher, N.U. (2012). Burrow morphology of three species of fiddler crab (Uca) along the coast of Pakistan. Belgian Journal of Zoology, 142(2), 114-126.
Reise, K. (2002). Sediment mediated species interaction in coastal waters. Journal of Sea Research, 48, 127–141.
Rudnick, D.A., Chan, V. & Resh, V.H. (2005). Morphology and impacts of the burrows of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards (Decapoda, Grapsoidea), in South San Francisco Bay California, USA. Crustaceana, 78(7), 787–807.
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Takeda, S. & Kurihara, Y. (1987). The distribution and abundance of Helice tridens (De Haan) burrows and substratum conditions in a northeastern Japan salt marsh (Crustacea: Brachyura). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 107, 9–19.
Tiensongrusmee, B. (2009). Vinegar crabs. Bangkok: The Thailand Research Fund. (in Thai)
Trivedi, J.N. & Vachhrajani, K.D. (2016). On burrow morphology of the ghost crab, Ocypode ceratophthalmus (Decapoda: Brachyura: Ocypodidae) from sandy shore of Gujarat, India. International Journal of Marine Science, 6(15), 1-10.
Thongtham, N. & Kristensen, E. (2003). Physical and chemical characteristics of mangrove crab (Neoepisesarma versicolor) burrows in the Bangrong mangrove forest, Phuket, Thailand; with emphasis on behavioural response to changing environmental conditions. Vie Milieu, 53, 141–151.
Wang, J., Bertness, M.D., Li, B. & Chen, J. (2015). Plant effects on burrowing crab morphology in a Chinese salt marsh: Native vs. exotic plants. Ecological Engineering. 74, 376-384.
Wolfrath, B. (1992). Burrowing of the fiddler crab Uca angeri in the Ria Formosa in Portugal and its influence on sediment structure. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 85, 237–243.
Yeesin, P. & Buatip, S. (2012). Species composition and distribution of shellfish in the mangrove area at Prince of Songkla University, Pattani campus. Faculty of Science and Technology, Prince of Songkla University. (in Thai)
Yeesin, P. & Buatip, S. (2015). Some biology of mangrove crab, Episesarma mederi (H. Milne Edwards, 1853) in Pattani bay. Faculty of Science and Technology, Prince of Songkla University. (in Thai)
Chan, B.K.K., Chan, K.K.Y. & Leung, P.C.M. (2006). Burrow architecture of the ghost crab Ocypode ceratophthalma on a sandy shore in Hong Kong. Hydrobiologia, 560(1), 43-49.
Chitarasing, S. (1976). A preliminary study on ecologival life history and some behavior of Sesarma (Sesarma) Mediri (H. Milne Edwards). Master of Science, Zoology, Graduate School, Kasetsart University. (in Thai)
Eshky, A.A., Atkinson, R.J.A. & Taylor, A.C. (1995). Physiological ecology of crabs from Saudi Arabian mangrove. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 126, 83–95.
Gillikin, D.P. & Kamanu, C.P. (2005). Burrowing in the East African mangrove crab, Chiromantes ortmanni (Crosnier, 1965) (Decapoda, Brachyura, Sesarmidae). Crustaceana, 78, 1273–1275.
Griffis, R.B. & Chavez, F.L. (1988). Effects of sediment type on burrows of Callianassa californiensis Dana and C. gigas Dana. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology Ecology, 117, 239–253.
Griffis, R.B. & Suchanek, T.H. (1991). A model of burrow architecture and trophic modes in thalassinidean shrimp (Decapoda: Thalassinidea). Marine Ecology Progress Series, 79, 171–183.
Katrak, G., Dittmann, S. & Seuront, L. (2008). Spatial variation in burrow morphology of the mud shore crab Helograpsus haswellianus (Brachyura, Grapsidae) in South Australian saltmarshes. Marine and Freshwater Research, 59, 902–911.
Kristensen, E. (2008). Mangrove crabs as ecosystem engineers; with emphasis on sediment processes. Journal of Sea Research, 59, 30–43.
Kulabthong, S. & Kunlapapuk, S. (2010). Habitat of marsh crab (Perisesarma eumolpe) in Bangkruai canal, Nontaburi Province. In Proceedings of 1st Phranakhon Rajabhat University Annual Conference. (pp. 75). Bangkok: Phranakhon Rajabhat University. (in Thai)
Lee, Y.H. & Koh, C.H. (1994). Biogenic sedimentary structures on a Korean mud flat: spring-neap variations. Netherlands Journal of Sea Research, 32(1), 81–90.
Lim, S.S.L. (2006). Fiddler crab burrow morphology: How do burrow dimensions and bioturbative activities compare in sympatric populations of Uca vocans (Linnaeus, 1758) and U. annulipes (H. Milne Edwards, 1837)?. Crustaceana, 79, 525–540.
Lim, S.S.L. & Diong, C.H., (2003). Burrow-morphological characters of the fiddler crab, Uca annulipes (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) and ecological correlates in a lagoonal beach on Pulau Hantu, Singapore. Crustaceana, 76, 1055–1069.
Machjajib, S. (1973). Grapsid crabs in the gulf of Thailand. Master of Science, Biology, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University. (in Thai)
Morrisey, D.J., DeWitt, T.H., Roper, D.S. & Williamson, R.B. (1999). Variation in the depth and morphology of burrows of the mud crab Helice crassa among different types of intertidal sediment in New Zealand. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 182, 231-242.
Naiyanetr, P. (2007). Checklist of crustacean fauna in Thailand (Decapoda, Stomatopoda, Anostraca, Myodocopa and Isopoda). Office of Environmental Policy and Planning. Bangkok.
Ng, P.K.L., Guinot, D. & Davie, P.J.F. (2008). Systema brachyurorum: part I an annotated checklist of extant brachyuran crabs of the world. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 17, 1-286.
Qureshi, N.A. & Saher, N.U. (2012). Burrow morphology of three species of fiddler crab (Uca) along the coast of Pakistan. Belgian Journal of Zoology, 142(2), 114-126.
Reise, K. (2002). Sediment mediated species interaction in coastal waters. Journal of Sea Research, 48, 127–141.
Rudnick, D.A., Chan, V. & Resh, V.H. (2005). Morphology and impacts of the burrows of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards (Decapoda, Grapsoidea), in South San Francisco Bay California, USA. Crustaceana, 78(7), 787–807.
Stieglitz, T., Ridd, P. & Muller, P. (2000). Passive irrigation and functional morphology of crustacean burrows in a tropical mangrove swamp. Hydrobiologia, 421, 69–76.
Takeda, S. & Kurihara, Y. (1987). The distribution and abundance of Helice tridens (De Haan) burrows and substratum conditions in a northeastern Japan salt marsh (Crustacea: Brachyura). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 107, 9–19.
Tiensongrusmee, B. (2009). Vinegar crabs. Bangkok: The Thailand Research Fund. (in Thai)
Trivedi, J.N. & Vachhrajani, K.D. (2016). On burrow morphology of the ghost crab, Ocypode ceratophthalmus (Decapoda: Brachyura: Ocypodidae) from sandy shore of Gujarat, India. International Journal of Marine Science, 6(15), 1-10.
Thongtham, N. & Kristensen, E. (2003). Physical and chemical characteristics of mangrove crab (Neoepisesarma versicolor) burrows in the Bangrong mangrove forest, Phuket, Thailand; with emphasis on behavioural response to changing environmental conditions. Vie Milieu, 53, 141–151.
Wang, J., Bertness, M.D., Li, B. & Chen, J. (2015). Plant effects on burrowing crab morphology in a Chinese salt marsh: Native vs. exotic plants. Ecological Engineering. 74, 376-384.
Wolfrath, B. (1992). Burrowing of the fiddler crab Uca angeri in the Ria Formosa in Portugal and its influence on sediment structure. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 85, 237–243.
Yeesin, P. & Buatip, S. (2012). Species composition and distribution of shellfish in the mangrove area at Prince of Songkla University, Pattani campus. Faculty of Science and Technology, Prince of Songkla University. (in Thai)
Yeesin, P. & Buatip, S. (2015). Some biology of mangrove crab, Episesarma mederi (H. Milne Edwards, 1853) in Pattani bay. Faculty of Science and Technology, Prince of Songkla University. (in Thai)
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2017-05-09
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