An analysis of population density and body condition in the fiddler crabs (Genus: Uca) compared between areas of high and low levels of human disturbance

Presentation Type

Event

Full Name of Faculty Mentor

Eric Rosch

Major

Marine Science

Presentation Abstract

Human activities have detrimental effects on the growth and reproductive rates of marine organisms. A useful measure of animal health is body mass index, where is the mass of an organism compared to its size. Animals in areas of lower food quality and higher levels of stress tend to have lower BMI and fitness. Fiddler crab burrow densities and body density (body mass divided by body volume) were measured from disturbed and near-pristine environments to ascertain the effects of anthropogenic impact on the health of fiddler crabs. Because fiddler crabs serve vital ecological roles in marsh ecosystems, impacts on their fitness will have far-reaching effects on the rest of the marsh community. Burrow densities were nearly double in the disturbed site and body densities were consistently higher in the undisturbed site. These findings imply that stress from human activities may have substantial effects on their ability to grow and reproduce.

Course

MSCI 399 Q13

External Presentation

1

Location

Lib Jackson Student Union, Atrium

Start Date

17-4-2019 4:30 PM

End Date

17-4-2019 6:30 PM

Disciplines

Oceanography

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 
Apr 17th, 4:30 PM Apr 17th, 6:30 PM

An analysis of population density and body condition in the fiddler crabs (Genus: Uca) compared between areas of high and low levels of human disturbance

Lib Jackson Student Union, Atrium

Human activities have detrimental effects on the growth and reproductive rates of marine organisms. A useful measure of animal health is body mass index, where is the mass of an organism compared to its size. Animals in areas of lower food quality and higher levels of stress tend to have lower BMI and fitness. Fiddler crab burrow densities and body density (body mass divided by body volume) were measured from disturbed and near-pristine environments to ascertain the effects of anthropogenic impact on the health of fiddler crabs. Because fiddler crabs serve vital ecological roles in marsh ecosystems, impacts on their fitness will have far-reaching effects on the rest of the marsh community. Burrow densities were nearly double in the disturbed site and body densities were consistently higher in the undisturbed site. These findings imply that stress from human activities may have substantial effects on their ability to grow and reproduce.