Paired Ghost Crab Burrow Morphology: An Analysis of Shape, Angle and Seasonal Variation
Presentation Type
Event
Full Name of Faculty Mentor
Eric Rosch
Major
Marine Science
Presentation Abstract
Ghost crab burrows are common sights on beaches year-round. However, paired burrows, or burrows with more than one opening are not as common and tend to show seasonal patterns in abundance, normally peaking during the warmest parts of the year. Previous work found sand compaction to correlate with single-entrance burrow morphology. The current project aims to apply these methods to paired burrows. Burrows were randomly chosen near the dunes at Huntington Beach State Park and casts were made using Plaster of Paris left to set for 45-60 minutes. After extraction, branch lengths and the angle between the two main branches were measured. Y-shaped burrows were the most common with branch angles varying between 34.9° to 82°. U-shaped burrows had the largest angle of 101°, and V-shaped burrows had 56° branch angles. Current analyses are focusing on beach characteristics and temporal patterns to elucidate any consistent trends in burrow morphology.
Location
Brittain Hall, Room 101
Start Date
17-4-2019 1:30 PM
End Date
17-4-2019 1:50 PM
Disciplines
Oceanography
Recommended Citation
Harding, Bailey, "Paired Ghost Crab Burrow Morphology: An Analysis of Shape, Angle and Seasonal Variation" (2019). Undergraduate Research Competition. 24.
https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/ugrc/2019/oral/24
Paired Ghost Crab Burrow Morphology: An Analysis of Shape, Angle and Seasonal Variation
Brittain Hall, Room 101
Ghost crab burrows are common sights on beaches year-round. However, paired burrows, or burrows with more than one opening are not as common and tend to show seasonal patterns in abundance, normally peaking during the warmest parts of the year. Previous work found sand compaction to correlate with single-entrance burrow morphology. The current project aims to apply these methods to paired burrows. Burrows were randomly chosen near the dunes at Huntington Beach State Park and casts were made using Plaster of Paris left to set for 45-60 minutes. After extraction, branch lengths and the angle between the two main branches were measured. Y-shaped burrows were the most common with branch angles varying between 34.9° to 82°. U-shaped burrows had the largest angle of 101°, and V-shaped burrows had 56° branch angles. Current analyses are focusing on beach characteristics and temporal patterns to elucidate any consistent trends in burrow morphology.