Developing Salt-Marsh Restoration Strategies to Optimize Habitat Use by the Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus (2009)

Dataset extent

This study focused on the predator-prey relationship of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, to the marsh periwinkle, Littoraria irrorata, and olive nerite, Neritina reclivata, to determine the extent of resource utilization by blue crabs in created marsh of different ages and unaltered reference sites in coastal Alabama. The following metrics were compared among sites: (1) predation potential imposed on Littoraria and Neritina by Callinectes, as measured by tethering experiments; (2) the frequency of sublethal injuries in shells of Littoraria and Neritina; (3) shell morphology of Littoraria and Neritina; (4) Callinectes abundance; and (5) the physical structure provided by the smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora, and the black needlerush, Juncus roemerianus. All predation metrics were significantly and positively correlated with one another and crab activity was regulated by the filtering effect of Spartina and Juncus. By integrating dynamical measures of predator–prey interactions with comparisons of the availability of potential prey species, this study provides a mechanistic view of the development of ecological function and the potential for energy export in restored salt-marsh habitats.

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Additional Info

Field Value
Author Richard Aronson
Maintainer data@disl.org
Last Updated July 23, 2022, 03:04 (UTC)
Created July 23, 2022, 03:04 (UTC)
Access_Constraints Permission to access these data must be given by Dr. Richard Aronson of Florida Institute of Technology.
ISO 19115 Topic Categories biota, environment, inlandWaters, oceans
Place Keywords Gulf of Mexico, Alabama, Gulf Coast, Dauphin Island, Mon Louis Island, Fowl River, Weeks Bay, Fish River, Little Dauphin Island, Airport Marsh, Estuarium Marsh, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, DISL
Theme Keywords salt marsh, restoration, habitat use, cascading ecosystem effects, trophic linkages, predator-prey relationship, abundance, diversity, population density, predation, energy flux, quadrat surveys, tethering, sublethal injuries, morphometric analysis, shell repairs, trophodynamics, vegetation density, plant density, shell morphology, sublethal injury, keystone predator, blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, marsh periwinkle, Littoraria irrorata, olive nerite, Neritina reclivata, black needlerush, Juncus roemerianus, smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora
Use_Constraints Acknowledgment of the Marine Paleoecology Lab, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, and Mobile Bay National Estuary Program is required in products developed from these data, and such acknowledgment as is standard for citation and legal practices for data source is expected by users of these data. Users should be aware that comparison with other data sets for the same area from other time periods may be inaccurate due to inconsistencies resulting from changes in mapping conventions, data collection, and computer processes over time. The distributor shall not be liable for improper or incorrect use of these data, based on the description of appropriate/inappropriate uses described in the metadata document. These data are not legal documents and are not to be used as such.
dc.contributor Ryan Moody
dc.coverage.placeName Gulf of Mexico Alabama Gulf Coast Dauphin Island Mon Louis Island Fowl River Weeks Bay Fish River Little Dauphin Island Airport Marsh Estuarium Marsh Dauphin Island Sea Lab DISL
dc.coverage.t.max 200910T
dc.coverage.t.min 200901T
dc.coverage.x.max -88.1776
dc.coverage.x.min -88.4722
dc.coverage.y.max 31.1800
dc.coverage.y.min 30.1988
dc.creator Dauphin Island Sea Lab: Aronson Lab
dc.date Unpublished material
dc.description This study focused on the predator-prey relationship of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, to the marsh periwinkle, Littoraria irrorata, and olive nerite, Neritina reclivata, to determine the extent of resource utilization by blue crabs in created marsh of different ages and unaltered reference sites in coastal Alabama. The following metrics were compared among sites: (1) predation potential imposed on Littoraria and Neritina by Callinectes, as measured by tethering experiments; (2) the frequency of sublethal injuries in shells of Littoraria and Neritina; (3) shell morphology of Littoraria and Neritina; (4) Callinectes abundance; and (5) the physical structure provided by the smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora, and the black needlerush, Juncus roemerianus. All predation metrics were significantly and positively correlated with one another and crab activity was regulated by the filtering effect of Spartina and Juncus. By integrating dynamical measures of predator–prey interactions with comparisons of the availability of potential prey species, this study provides a mechanistic view of the development of ecological function and the potential for energy export in restored salt-marsh habitats.
dc.language en
dc.subject salt marsh restoration habitat use cascading ecosystem effects trophic linkages predator-prey relationship abundance diversity population density predation energy flux quadrat surveys tethering sublethal injuries morphometric analysis shell repairs trophodynamics vegetation density plant density shell morphology sublethal injury keystone predator blue crab Callinectes sapidus marsh periwinkle Littoraria irrorata olive nerite Neritina reclivata black needlerush Juncus roemerianus smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora
dc.title Developing Salt-Marsh Restoration Strategies to Optimize Habitat Use by the Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus (2009)
spatial { "type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [ [ [ -88.4722, 31.1800 ], [ -88.1776, 31.1800 ], [ -88.1776, 30.1988 ], [ -88.4722, 30.1988 ], [ -88.4722, 31.1800 ] ] ] }