The relationship of blue crab abundance to winter mortality of Whooping Cranes

Pugesek, Bruce H.; Baldwin, Michael J.; Stehn, Thomas V.

doi:10.1676/12-159.1

Cited by 17 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Certain crane species feed primarily on animal matter while wintering in some sites. These include, the Lesser Sandhill Crane ( G. canadensis canadensis ) (Davis & Vohs, 1993), Whooping Crane ( G. americana ) (Pugesek, Baldwin & Stehn, 2013), and Red-crowned Crane ( G. japonensis ) (Li et al, 2014). Demoiselle Cranes ( Anthropoides virgo ) (Sarwar et al, 2013), Florida Sandhill Cranes ( G. c. pratensis ) (Rucker, 1992) and Common Cranes show similar preferences for invertebrates (Avilés, Sánchez & Parejo, 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Winter diet and food selection of the Black-necked CraneGrus nigricollisin Dashanbao, Yunnan, China

Dong

Zhong

et al. 2016

PeerJ

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The Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis is a globally vulnerable species whose food is the factor determining its long-term survival. Understanding dietary habits, food preferences, and related factors will facilitate the development of effective conservation plans for the protection of this vulnerable species. For this purpose, we used video recordings and sampling of food availability to examine the dietary composition and temporal variation in food selection of Black-necked Cranes wintering in the Dashanbao National Nature Reserve, China. The Black-necked Crane’s diet consists primarily of domestic food crops such as grains (74%) and potatoes (8%), in addition to invertebrates (14%). A much smaller proportion of the diet was comprised of turnips and wild herbaceous plants and tubers. There was monthly variation in food selection, partially related to food availability. Grains were most available in November and decreased through the winter, whereas invertebrates were more available in November and February than in December and January. Grain consumption was lowest in November but higher from December through February. Invertebrate consumption was highest in November and February. The cranes preferred to eat grains throughout winter months, while they mainly selected invertebrates in November and February. We suggested invertebrate populations sharply declined in December and January due to the low temperature. In addition, grain consumption was negatively associated with invertebrate availability. In November, when invertebrates were most abundant, and despite a concomitant peak in grain abundance, we suggested cranes exhibited a preference for invertebrates over grains. We recommend that the protection administration provide appropriate supplemental foods for cranes during freezing weather.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Winter diet and food selection of the Black-necked CraneGrus nigricollisin Dashanbao, Yunnan, China

Dong

Zhong

et al. 2016

PeerJ

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“…The blue crab can regulate the abundance of some of its prey populations, which can have drastic effects on the whole estuarine ecosystem (Eggleston, 1990; Mansour & Lipcius, 1991; Silliman & Bertness, 2002). As a prey, the blue crab is one of the main food items of the critically endangered whooping crane during its winter migration period in south Texas (Hunt & Slack, 1989), and reductions in the abundance of blue crabs appear to be correlated with increased mortality of whooping cranes during this period (Pugesek, Baldwin & Stehn, 2013; Stehn, 2001, 2011). Blue crabs also constitute an important prey item of the critically endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle (Burke, Morreale & Standora, 1994; Seney, 2016; Witzell & Schmid, 2005), as well as of commercially important fish species, such as the red drum (Scharf & Schlicht, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population genetics and historical demographic inferences of the blue crabCallinectes sapidusin the US based on microsatellites

Macedo

Caballero

Mateos

et al. 2019

PeerJ

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The native range of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus spans Nova Scotia to northern Argentina. In the US, it constitutes a keystone species in estuarine habitats of the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico (GOM), serving as both predator and prey to other species, and also has historically represented a multi-billion dollar fishery. Knowledge relevant to effective management and monitoring of this ecologically and economically important species, such as levels of population genetic differentiation and genetic diversity, is necessary. Although several population genetics studies have attempted to address these questions in one or more parts of its distribution, conflicting results and potential problems with the markers used, as well as other issues, have obscured our understanding on them. In this study, we examined large-scale genetic connectivity of the blue crab in the US, using 16 microsatellites, and genotyped individuals from Chesapeake Bay, in the US Atlantic, and from nine localities along the US GOM coast. Consistent with the high long-distance dispersal potential of this species, very low levels of genetic differentiation were detected for the blue crab among the ten US localities examined, suggesting it constitutes a large panmictic population within this region. Estimations of genetic diversity for the blue crab appear to be high in the US, and provide a baseline for monitoring temporal changes in this species. Demographic analyses indicate a recent range expansion of the US population, probably during the Holocene. In addition, capitalizing on published microsatellite data from southern Brazil, our analyses detected high genetic differentiation between localities in the US and Brazil. These results point to the need for examination of genetic diversity and differentiation along the area spanning the US to southern Brazil.

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“…Among other bird species, curlews (Piersma, 1986; Zharikov & Skilleter, 2002) and some gull species (Beron et al., 2011; Ellis et al., 2005) are considered as crab‐eating specialists. Whooping crane ( Grus americana ) is the only other crane species currently known to depend on crabs (Hunt & Slack, 1989) and whose winter mortality rates are correlated with declines in populations of blue crab ( Callinectes sapidus ) (Pugesek, Baldwin, & Stehn, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Burrow ambient temperature influences Helice crab activity and availability for migratory Red‐crowned cranes Grus japonensis

Zhang

Chen

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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For migratory birds that specialize on particular benthic macroinvertebrate species, the timing of migration is critical since prey availability may be temporally limited and a function of local ambient temperature. Hence, variation in local ambient temperature can influence the diet composition of migrant birds, and, consequently, they may be constrained by which stopover and wintering sites they are able to utilize during periods of colder temperatures. Here, we use fecal analysis, observer‐based population counts, digital video recordings, and temperature data to test five predictions regarding the influence of local ambient temperature on the activity and availability of mudflat crabs—a key prey resource at three staging/wintering sites in eastern China, for migratory Red‐crowned cranes ( Grus japonensis ) and how this subsequently influences crane diet and use of wetland sites. Pearson's correlations and generalized linear models revealed that mudflat crabs became significantly more surface active with increasing burrow ambient temperature. Piecewise regression analysis revealed that crab surface activity was largely limited to a burrow ambient temperature threshold between 12 and 13℃ after which activity significantly increased. Crab activity declining temporally during the crane's autumn migration period but increased during spring migration. Crabs accounted for a significant proportion of crane diet at two of three sites; however, the frequency of crab remains was significantly different between sites, and between autumn and spring migration. Analyses of crane count data revealed a degree of congruence between the migration timing of Red‐crowned cranes with periods of warmer ambient temperature, and a significant, positive correlation between the percentage of crab remains in crane feces and site ambient temperature. Collectively, our data suggest that temperature‐related mudflat crab activity may provide an important time window for migratory Red‐crowned cranes to utilize critical stopover sites and the crabs’ food resources.

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The relationship of blue crab abundance to winter mortality of Whooping Cranes

Cited by 17 publications

References 3 publications

Winter diet and food selection of the Black-necked CraneGrus nigricollisin Dashanbao, Yunnan, China

Winter diet and food selection of the Black-necked CraneGrus nigricollisin Dashanbao, Yunnan, China

Population genetics and historical demographic inferences of the blue crabCallinectes sapidusin the US based on microsatellites

Burrow ambient temperature influences Helice crab activity and availability for migratory Red‐crowned cranes Grus japonensis

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