Conference paper
Monitoring beach impacts: a case for ghost crabs as ecological indicators?
Proceedings of the 2nd Queensland Coastal Conference
Queensland Coastal Conference: Waves of Change, 2nd (Gold Coast, Australia, 13-May-2009–15-May-2009)
SEQ Catchments Ltd.
2009
Abstract
Sandy beaches are under pressure from expanding coastal populations, ribbon development in the costal strip and increasing recreational use of beaches. In Queensland and elsewhere beaches are the prime sites for human recreation and their ecosystems are being extensively modified by development and direct human use. Yet, the ecological consequences of this process, especially for urban and peri-urban beaches, are poorly understood and criteria to measure the ecological health of beaches are not developed. We therefore tested the applicability of ghost crabs (Genus Ocypode) as ecological indicators on beaches. Ghost crabs offer practical advantages in that they are abundant and widespread and densities can be estimated by counting burrow openings. Because the crabs are the apex predators on beaches, their responses should also be ecologically meaningful. Densities of ghost crabs declined in areas subjected to habitat modification (i.e. seawall replacing dunes) and continuous trampling, suggesting predictable biological responses to human stressors. Crab numbers did, however, also change in response to natural variations in wave and wind regimes. This would confound the detection of impacts from human causes unless careful spatial and temporal replication is built into monitoring programs.
Details
- Title
- Monitoring beach impacts: a case for ghost crabs as ecological indicators?
- Authors
- Thomas Schlacher (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and EducationSerena Lucrezi (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and Education
- Publication details
- Proceedings of the 2nd Queensland Coastal Conference; 15
- Conference details
- Queensland Coastal Conference: Waves of Change, 2nd (Gold Coast, Australia, 13-May-2009–15-May-2009)
- Publisher
- SEQ Catchments Ltd.
- Date published
- 2009
- ISBN
- 9780980651102
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2009 The Authors. Reproduced here with permission.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449612402621
- Output Type
- Conference paper
Metrics
129 File views/ downloads
1053 Record Views