The influence of food availability on burrowing activities the crab sesarma boulengeri (calman)‎

Abstract EN

Sesarma boulengeri (Calman) crab populations were tested for food limitation in an intertidal flat in Shatt Al-Arab River.

Food supply was artificially increased by adding thin - cut plants.

This resulted in a relative increase in the crabs population density, recruitment and organic content.

Crabs dig more burrows than they require for theis protection and their physiological needs; some time they may dig burrows in excess even when empty burrows are available in response to their food supply.

The hypothesis was examined by comparing burrow and crab densities in an intertidal flat, then manipulating the burrow density and food availability in the laboratory.

Furthermore, females were assumed to be more sensitive to the food availability than males and small crabs more sensitive than large crabs and the numbers of burrows were more than crabs.

Smaller crabs of both sexes burrow faster and to lesser depths .New burrows despite the presence of unoccupied burrows and burrowing activity of smaller crabs of both sexes varied with food availability.

The final results showed that the small crabs may be more sensitive to food availability and may be more capable of adjusting their burrowing activity to their food supply.