Beachgoers can help biologists learn about spawning horseshoe crabs
News Release
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Media contact: Carli Segelson, 727-896-8626
This spring, mating horseshoe crabs will gather at sandy beaches
throughout the state. Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission's (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research
Institute need help from the public to identify horseshoe crab
spawning areas.
The best time to find spawning horseshoe crabs is around high
tide, just before, during or after a full or new moon. The new moon
conditions around May 3 and the full moon conditions around May 17
will create good opportunities for viewing the spawning behavior of
horseshoe crabs.
The FWC asks beachgoers to report the number of horseshoe crabs
they see and whether the horseshoe crabs are mating. Mating crabs
"pair up," with the smaller male on top of the larger female. Other
male crabs may be present around the couple. Biologists also want
to know the date, time, location, habitat type and environmental
conditions, such as tides and moon phase. If possible, specify
roughly how many are mating adults and how many are juveniles (4
inches wide or smaller).
FWC asks people to report sightings through one of several
convenient options. Go to MyFWC.com/Contact and follow the link to fill
out an online survey; email findings to horseshoe@MyFWC.com; or call
the FWC at 866-252-9326.
Horseshoe crabs have been around for approximately 450 million
years and are an important part of a marine ecosystem. Their eggs
are a vital food source for animals and birds, such as the red
knot.
Horseshoe crabs are important to humans as well. For instance,
in the biomedical industry, horseshoe crab blood helps save human
lives. Pharmaceutical companies use horseshoe crab blood to make
sure that intravenous drugs and vaccine injections are
bacteria-free. Also, research into horseshoe crab eyes has given
scientists a greater knowledge of the functioning of human
eyes.
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