TY - JOUR

T1 - Scale-dependent spatial and temporal patterns of abundance and population structure of the xanthid crab Leptodius exaratus on rocky shores in Kuwait

AU - Al-Wazzan, Zainab

AU - Vay, Lewis Le

AU - Behbehani, Manaf

AU - Giménez, Luis

N1 - Added to PURE from Elsevier data received from transformative agreement consultation. Validated without post-print by MW

PY - 2020/5/31

Y1 - 2020/5/31

N2 - Rocky shore habitats are common in the Arabian Gulf region, however, there is little knowledge of the patterns of spatial and temporal distribution of key intertidal organisms. The spatial and seasonal distribution of Leptodius exaratus, a keystone species rocky shores on the Kuwait coast, were investigated to better understand the ecology of the species and to gain a wider knowledge of the ecology of the rocky shore habitats in the northwest Arabian Gulf. Intensive sampling across six sites along Kuwait’s coastline over a 14 month period between November 2013 and December 2014 indicated seasonal patterns of crab abundance, increasing during the warm season and decreasing during winter and with a more large crabs observed during the summer. L. exaratus was more abundant in the mid intertidal zone on both sheltered and exposed shores. Their abundance increased towards the lower shore in sheltered sites, whereas abundance was greater towards the higher shore in exposed sites. Males and females inhabit the same habitat, with similar spatial and seasonal distributions. There was high seasonal recruitment of juveniles during summer between July and September, with some low levels of recruitment later in October and November. Moreover, juveniles follow a similar pattern of distribution as adult crabs, with abundance of juveniles being directly related to the abundance of the adult crabs and ovigerous females present on each shore. This indicates direct or indirect recruitment to the adult intertidal habitat. Significant differences in crab abundance were seen between specific sampling sites, but not at a regional level between sheltered and exposed shorelines. This suggests that abundance is influenced by localised differences between rocky shore habitat, such as habitat complexity. L. exaratus is also exploited by intertidal gleaning, which may indirectly influence patterns of crab abundance through localised differences in habitat damage.

AB - Rocky shore habitats are common in the Arabian Gulf region, however, there is little knowledge of the patterns of spatial and temporal distribution of key intertidal organisms. The spatial and seasonal distribution of Leptodius exaratus, a keystone species rocky shores on the Kuwait coast, were investigated to better understand the ecology of the species and to gain a wider knowledge of the ecology of the rocky shore habitats in the northwest Arabian Gulf. Intensive sampling across six sites along Kuwait’s coastline over a 14 month period between November 2013 and December 2014 indicated seasonal patterns of crab abundance, increasing during the warm season and decreasing during winter and with a more large crabs observed during the summer. L. exaratus was more abundant in the mid intertidal zone on both sheltered and exposed shores. Their abundance increased towards the lower shore in sheltered sites, whereas abundance was greater towards the higher shore in exposed sites. Males and females inhabit the same habitat, with similar spatial and seasonal distributions. There was high seasonal recruitment of juveniles during summer between July and September, with some low levels of recruitment later in October and November. Moreover, juveniles follow a similar pattern of distribution as adult crabs, with abundance of juveniles being directly related to the abundance of the adult crabs and ovigerous females present on each shore. This indicates direct or indirect recruitment to the adult intertidal habitat. Significant differences in crab abundance were seen between specific sampling sites, but not at a regional level between sheltered and exposed shorelines. This suggests that abundance is influenced by localised differences between rocky shore habitat, such as habitat complexity. L. exaratus is also exploited by intertidal gleaning, which may indirectly influence patterns of crab abundance through localised differences in habitat damage.

KW - Seasonality

KW - Brachyura

KW - Intertidal zone

KW - Tidal level

KW - Arabian gulf

U2 - 10.1016/j.rsma.2020.101325

DO - 10.1016/j.rsma.2020.101325

M3 - Article

VL - 37

SP - 101325

JO - Regional Studies in Marine Science

JF - Regional Studies in Marine Science

SN - 2352-4855

ER -