Abstract
Physical factors affecting the survival of Tachypleus tridentatus eggs were investigated by translocating their eggs between the high intertidal zone and the low intertidal zone of a known spawning site. The mean egg survival rates per day were highest in the mid intertidal zone (45.1%±25.4%) and the lowest in the low intertidal zone (13.3%±27.6%). Differences in the elevation, air exposure time, and water content of the spawning ground were significant factors determining the egg survival rates. Excessive or insufficient air exposure time resulted in inadequate water content at higher and lower intertidal zones and could reduce egg survival. On the other hand, moderate saturation and dehydration were repeated with each tidal movement in the mid intertidal zone. This dynamic is considered as one of the crucial factors for the survival of eggs and is considered optimal for spawning. Therefore, the protection of the mid intertidal zone is imperative for maximizing the egg survival rate in Tsuyazaki Cove where almost all suitable nesting sites have disappeared due to coastal development. By protecting these optimal sites for spawning and recovering other optimal sites on suitable beaches, a positive contribution can be made to future management and conservation. The study also suggests that translocating eggs from marginal to optimal spawning sites might be a recovery strategy for this globally endangered species.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to Dr. John A. Harris (former Head, School of Environmental Science, University of Canberra, Australia) for his suggestions during his visit to our study site and for editing the draft of this paper. We would like to show our gratitude to Dr. Akihiko Koyama at the Fisheries Laboratory of the Graduate School of Kyushu University for his useful advice regarding this paper’s structure and data analyses. Mr. Katsuji Motojima of Towa Technology Co., Ltd. gave us many encouragements. We would also like to thank Mr. Ayumu Sakurada, Mr. Yu Ono, Mr. Kazuya Maeda, Mr. Daiki Masuda of the Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, and Mr. Hiroyuki Oyama of the limited liability company Morisho for their cooperation in the survey of this research.
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Itaya, S., Shuuno, M., Onikura, N. et al. Effect of Intertidal Elevation at Tsuyazaki Cove, Fukuoka, Japan on Survival Rate of Horseshoe Crab Tachypleus tridentatus Eggs. J. Ocean Univ. China 21, 601–610 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-022-5357-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-022-5357-8