Burrows architecture of the crab Ucides cordatus (LINNAEUS, 1763) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Ucididae) in a mangrove swamp of Brazil

Araújo, Marina de Sá Leitão Câmara de; Calado, Tereza Cristina dos Santos

doi:10.5914/tropocean.v39i2.5185

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…They can be simple burrows with one opening and one corridor, U-shaped with more than one opening, or even more complex structures with a maximum of three openings [32] . In northeast Brazil simple burrows are the most common type (more than 85% of all investigated burrows, n = 735) [32] . In the Furo Grande area simple burrows are also the most common burrow type (unpublished observation).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Burrows of the Semi-Terrestrial Crab Ucides cordatus Enhance CO2 Release in a North Brazilian Mangrove Forest

et al. 2014

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Ucides cordatus is an abundant mangrove crab in Brazil constructing burrows of up to 2 m depth. Sediment around burrows may oxidize during low tides. This increase in sediment-air contact area may enhance carbon degradation processes. We hypothesized that 1) the sediment CO2 efflux rate is greater with burrows than without and 2) the reduction potential in radial profiles in the sediment surrounding the burrows decreases gradually, until approximating non-bioturbated conditions. Sampling was conducted during the North Brazilian wet season at neap tides. CO2 efflux rates of inhabited burrows and plain sediment were measured with a CO2/H2O gas analyzer connected to a respiration chamber. Sediment redox potential, pH and temperature were measured in the sediment surrounding the burrows at horizontal distances of 2, 5, 8 and 15 cm at four sediment depths (1, 10, 30 and 50 cm) and rH values were calculated. Sediment cores (50 cm length) were taken to measure the same parameters for plain sediment. CO2 efflux rates of plain sediment and individual crab burrows with entrance diameters of 7 cm were 0.7–1.3 µmol m−2 s−1 and 0.2–0.4 µmol burrows−1 s−1, respectively. CO2 released from a Rhizophora mangle dominated forest with an average of 1.7 U. cordatus burrows−1 m−2 yielded 1.0–1.7 µmol m−2 s−1, depending on the month and burrow entrance diameter. Laboratory experiments revealed that 20–60% of the CO2 released by burrows originated from crab respiration. Temporal changes in the reduction potential in the sediment surrounding the burrows did not influence the CO2 release from burrows. More oxidized conditions of plain sediment over time may explain the increase in CO2 release until the end of the wet season. CO2 released by U. cordatus and their burrows may be a significant pathway of CO2 export from mangrove sediments and should be considered in mangrove carbon budget estimates.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Burrows of the Semi-Terrestrial Crab Ucides cordatus Enhance CO2 Release in a North Brazilian Mangrove Forest

et al. 2014

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“…Small species of the genus Uca promote less bioturbation than D. pagei (Penha-Lopes et al, 2009;Qureshi & Saher, 2012;Machado et al, 2013). On the other hand, larger estuarine crabs such as U. cordatus build deeper burrows with multiple openings (De Araújo & Calado, 2012;Pülmanns et al, 2016), and Neohelice granulata (previously Chasmagnathus granulata) (Iribarne et al, 1997;Botto & Iribarne, 2000) promotes considerably larger bioturbation than D. pagei.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amazon freshwater crab Dilocarcinus pagei (Decapoda: Trichodactylidae): a view about burrow construction behavior

Fernandes¹,

Sant’Anna²,

Hattori³

2020

Lat. Am. J. Aquat. Res.

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Crabs use burrows to prevent predation, environmental interference and shelter. The present study investigated the excavation behavior of the trichodactylid crab Dilocarcinus pagei, considering the biometric aspects of the burrows, the excavation time, the amount of bioturbation and the excavation behavior of the two sexes. The burrows of males had a mean diameter larger than the females, although the depth was similar for both sexes. Females had higher bioturbation than males, and showed enlargement in a camera format at the bottom, even closing the entrance of the burrows with a "plug" after their construction. Both the camera and the presence of the "plug" in the burrows of the females may be associated with reproduction. The presence of pellets observed at the entrance of burrows is associated with the cleaning of the pereiopods by crabs after the excavation. The sequence of behaviors for the construction of the burrows is described in detail, contributing to the knowledge about the biology and ecology of freshwater crabs of the Amazon.

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“…Furthermore, burrows with one opening, typical for U . cordatus [56] as well as for Uca spp., may not be as efficient as desalinators as the burrows with multiple openings of many sesarmid crabs in the IWP which allow a flow through of tidal water between openings [57–60]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mangrove Crab Ucides cordatus Removal Does Not Affect Sediment Parameters and Stipule Production in a One Year Experiment in Northern Brazil

et al. 2016

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Mangrove crabs influence ecosystem processes through bioturbation and/or litter feeding. In Brazilian mangroves, the abundant and commercially important crab Ucides cordatus is the main faunal modifier of microtopography establishing up to 2 m deep burrows. They process more than 70% of the leaf litter and propagule production, thus promoting microbial degradation of detritus and benefiting microbe-feeding fiddler crabs. The accelerated nutrient turn-over and increased sediment oxygenation mediated by U. cordatus may enhance mangrove tree growth. Such positive feed-back loop was tested in North Brazil through a one year crab removal experiment simulating increased harvesting rates in a mature Rhizophora mangle forest. Investigated response parameters were sediment salinity, organic matter content, CO2 efflux rates of the surface sediment, and reduction potential. We also determined stipule fall of the mangrove tree R. mangle as a proxy for tree growth. Three treatments were applied to twelve experimental plots (13 m × 13 m each): crab removal, disturbance control and control. Within one year, the number of U. cordatus burrows inside the four removal plots decreased on average to 52% of the initial number. Despite this distinct reduction in burrow density of this large bioturbator, none of the measured parameters differed between treatments. Instead, most parameters were clearly influenced by seasonal changes in precipitation. Hence, in the studied R. mangle forest, abiotic factors seem to be more important drivers of ecosystem processes than factors mediated by U. cordatus, at least within the studied timespan of one year.

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Burrows architecture of the crab Ucides cordatus (LINNAEUS, 1763) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Ucididae) in a mangrove swamp of Brazil

Cited by 5 publications

References 23 publications

Burrows of the Semi-Terrestrial Crab Ucides cordatus Enhance CO2 Release in a North Brazilian Mangrove Forest

Burrows of the Semi-Terrestrial Crab Ucides cordatus Enhance CO2 Release in a North Brazilian Mangrove Forest

Amazon freshwater crab Dilocarcinus pagei (Decapoda: Trichodactylidae): a view about burrow construction behavior

Mangrove Crab Ucides cordatus Removal Does Not Affect Sediment Parameters and Stipule Production in a One Year Experiment in Northern Brazil

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