2011 Horseshoe Crab Spawning Surveys
Rafferty P. 2018. 2011 Horseshoe Crab Spawning Surveys
Horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) are an important part of the ecosystem, fishing community and biomedical industry. They predate on small clams, worms and crustaceans and are preyed upon by loggerhead turtles and sharks. Their eggs provide a rich food source for migratory shore birds. They are harvested for conch and eel bait and are also important to the biomedical industry for their blue blood used to produce Limulus amebocyte lysate. Each spring during new and full moons in May and June horseshoe crabs come to beaches of Jamaica Bay, Sagamore Hill and Fire Island to spawn. Spawning surveys along with recapture data help to determine the population and range of the species.
- Type
- Generic Dataset
- Authors
- Rafferty, Patricia
- Date of Issue
- 2018-03-12
- Units
- FIIS , GATE , SAHI
- Keywords
- Breezy Beach, Estuary, Fire Island Lighthouse, Fire Island National Seashore, Gateway National Recreation Area, Horseshoe Crab, Jamaica Bay, New York, Salt Marsh, Spawning, Wetland
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Intertidal Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Marine Invertebrates