Environmental factors and occurrence of horseshoe crabs in the northcentral Gulf of Mexico.

ABSTRACT: This study provides regional-scale data on drivers of horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) presence along the northcentral Gulf of Mexico coast and has implications for understanding habitat suitability for sparse horseshoe crab populations of conservation concern worldwide. To collect baseline data on the relationship between environmental factors and presence of horseshoe crabs, we surveyed four sites from the Fort Morgan peninsula of Mobile Bay, Alabama (AL) to Horn Island, Mississippi (MS). We documented number, size and sex of live animals, molts, and carcasses as metrics of horseshoe crab presence and demographics for two years. Data were compared to in situ and remotely sensed environmental attributes to assess environmental drivers of occurrence during the time of study. Overall, gr

SUBMITTER: Estes MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7781375 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature