2016 Horseshoe Crab Spawning Surveys

Rafferty, Patricia

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.