Behavioural responses of the mangrove fiddler crabs (Uca annulipes and U. inversa) to urban sewage loadings: Results of a mesocosm approach
Bartolini, F.; Penha-Lopez, G.; Limbu, S.; Paula, J.; Cannicci, S. (2009). Behavioural responses of the mangrove fiddler crabs (Uca annulipes and U. inversa) to urban sewage loadings: Results of a mesocosm approach. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 58(12): 1860-1867. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.07.019
In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. Macmillan: London. ISSN 0025-326X; e-ISSN 1879-3363, more
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Keywords |
Behaviour > Reproductive behaviour Mangroves Pollution > Sediment pollution Pollution > Water pollution Wastes > Sewage Decapoda [WoRMS]; Uca (Austruca) annulipes (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) [WoRMS] ISW, Tanzania, Dar es Salaam [Marine Regions] Marine/Coastal |
Author keywords |
Sewage; East Africa; Mangrove; Fiddler crab; Behaviour; Ecosystemengineer |
Authors | | Top |
- Bartolini, F.
- Penha-Lopez, G.
- Limbu, S.
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Abstract |
The study aimed at investigating the effects of sewage loadings on the behaviour of two fiddler crabs species maintained in a system of experimental mesocosms, built in a mangrove area in Tanzania and inundated with different seawater/sewage mixtures. Our results show that sewage loads led to a modification of the overall activity budget of the crab community as a result of increased hypertrophic conditions (high COD, increased chlorophyll-a concentrations). During their activity period, crabs inside contaminated mesocosms seemed to satisfy their feeding demand faster than those of the control cells, spending a significant longer time in other activities like courtship and territorial defence. Apart from being a good biological indication of ecosystem eutrophication, such a reduced foraging activity by fiddler crabs also depresses their sediment bioturbation activity, important factor for the health of mangrove systems, suggesting practical implications regarding the efficiency of mangrove-based wetlands for treatment of domestic sewage. |
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