Species Profile of the Sand Crab (Emerita analoga). Camouflaged communities of Emerita analoga exist along the Pacific coast from the Alaska to California. Sand crabs is crustacean arthropods belonging to the Hippidae family to the genus Emerita. The unique ecological factors of the intertidal biome provide the basic conditions necessary for sand crabs. The most established populations of Emerita analoga inhibit the California coast (C. Sorte et al., 2001). The Pacific Intertidal zone Vandenberg Air Force Base, California sand crabs burrows into the sand with their antennas protruding upwards.
Even though physically sand crabs are tinier than a thumb, female to male ratio lies in the carapace length of 14-35mm female and 10-22 male (The Mole Crab, n.d.). The invertebrate design of the shell helps balance- position the crab and protects the internal structures. The success to sand crab attributed to their gray, heavily armored, curved body, and pointy legs. While other crabs can swim forwards and backwards, sand crabs are only capable of swimming backwards. Giving them the ability to tread
…show more content…
analoga inhabiting the New World constitute a monophyletic group closers to the inhabiting Old World Emerita (Journal of Crustacean Biology, 2002). Meaning the structure and function examined from fossilized sand crabs are almost exact copies of New World Emerita analoga. When comparing sand crabs to modern species in their physical makeup is less comparable, suggesting the need to change the structure through evolution unnecessary. Therefore the Malacostraca classification shows little change for the Decapoda- Hippidae Emerita analoga (Journal of Crustacean Biology, 2002); excluding however, their closely related family Hermit Crabs, Stone Crabs, and Pelagic Red Crabs. However, it should be noted sand crabs are not remotely related to the King Crab, Horseshoe Crab, and the Lice Crab which belong to the Lithodidae
T. californicus is found from Alaska to Baja in small, shallow tidepools and tidal flats in the upper spray zone where they cannot avoid the full effect of visible and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Individuals assemble in areas of lower radiation at midday, yet have no preference to the intensity of light at dawn and dusk (Hartline and Macmillan 1995). These tiny arthropods inhabit all types of marine sediments from sand to fine mud and ooze. Along with plankton, T. californicus eats microscopic algae, protists, bacteria, diatoms, algae and microbes (McGroarty 1958). When the concentrations of the species in their habitats are high, T. californicus will turn to cannibalism for a food source. The nautilus eye present in the species is rich with fatty acids and provides a good food source for the animal.
The picture above shows the vast difference that there can be in animals, to the right is Emerita Analoga (sand crab), and to the left is Zalophus Californianus (California Sea Lion). The sand crab is an invertebrate while the seal is a vertebrate and mammal. Invertebrates make up 90% of all an...
The bay's harvest and many of its other attractions bring tourists and in turn revenue for the area. Oysters and blue crab are a big part of the culture in the bay area. However, these organisms are in danger and need help. Description of the problem Eutrophication is a concern in the Chesapeake Bay. Eutrophication is caused by excessive amounts of nutrients.
Crustaceans belong to the Arthropoda Phylum, which includes critters like ants, spiders, and centipedes. I know! Crazy to think that a delicious crab is in the same group as a spider! But they share similar characteristics. For starters, members of the Arthropoda Phylum do not have a backbone like you and me, so they are called __invertebrates__. And, as mentioned earlier, their skeleton is external, which is referred to as an __exoskeleton__.
The blue crab plays an important role in the marine food web, providing prey for many species and a predator on other species. The blue crab is a highly prized commodity for consumers.   ; Eight species of Callinectes have been documented in the Gulf of Mexico: C. bocourti, C. danae, C. ornatus, C. exasperatus, C. marginatus, C. similis and C. rathbunae, and Callinectes The original range of the blue crab is from Nova Scotia and throughout the Gulf of Mexico to northern Argentina.
Syncaris Pacifica is a scientific names another name for Syncaris Pacifica is a The California freshwater shrimp. This species is often translucent to transparent. Both male and female are capable of considerable coloration altering, as a sophisticated form of camouflage. The Shrimps is endemic to 16 coastal streams in Marin, Sonoma, and Napa countries north of San Francisco Bay. Also Syncaris Pacifica is one of four atyid shrimps species endemic to North America. The shrimps are found in low elevation. The max elevation the shrimps can live in is one hundred twenty five meter. In 1986 the California freshwater shrimps were listed endangered specie and until now the shrimps still listed as endangered. Current population for California freshwater shrimps is unknown. The shrimps survive by eating the various microscopic organisms that live in the stream. The adult size of the shrimps is less than three inches. The shrimp have two antenna. The first antenna is short and the second one is three times longer then the first one.
Mytilus Californianus are known as California mussels that form dense mussel beds and considered one of the most abundant intertidal organisms. They are found clustered together in the upper-middle zone on the open coast. Mytilus Californianus attach themselves to rocks by byssal threads. They have geographic range from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska to northern Mexico of Baja California (Morris et al. 1980). “It provides habitat, refuge, and provides food for over 300 other species” including human (rust, 2011). For long period of time, human use these mussels as a food source. These mussels can grow up to 130 to 150mm in size but the process usually is attained in three years. Scientists
to the lobster and crab. Their closest living relative today is the horseshoe crab.The name
Fox, R. 2001. Invertebrate Anatomy OnLine: Artemia Franciscana. Lander University. http://webs.lander.edu/rsfox/invertebrates/artemia.html, retrieved February 13, 2011.
The outer layer of a reef consists of living animals, or polyps, of coral. Single-celled algae called zooxanthellae live within the coral polyps, and a skeleton containing filamentous green algae surrounds them. The photosynthetic zooxanthellae and green algae transfer food energy directly to the coral polyps, while acquiring scarce nutrients from the coral. The numerous micro habitats of coral reefs and the high biological productivity support a great diversity of other life.
they find their food by their surroundings and sifting the sand of filtering the water. the bulk of their diet is composed algae and plankton matter. The big evolutionary change helped the shrimp defend itself, time before the change there wasn’t this many shrimp in the ocean most people eat shrimp and can cause a decrease in shrimp, progress has been showed since this great evolutionary change, there are some effects on the species such as not being able to see where it’s going and can sometimes get in to traps and trash in the
Crustacea is a large subphylum of Arthropoda, consisting of almost 52 000 described species, including animals like crabs, lobsters, shrimp and barnacles. The majority of these are aquatic, living in marine or fresh water environments, though some have adapted to living on land like some crabs and woodlice. Most crustaceans are relatively small, though there are some exceptions. All of them have a hard, strong exoskeleton, divided into two parts, which has to be shed in order to allow the animal itself to grow. They have a large circulation system, where blood is pumped around the body by the heart. Only some crustaceans have sexes separate, and those that are usually mate seasonally and lay eggs. The study of Crustacea is called carcinology.
According to Scottish novelist and poet Robert Louis Stevenson, “Life is monstrous, infinite, illogical abrupt and poignant… a work of (realist) art in comparison is neat, finite, self-contained, natural, flowing and emasculate.” Peter Carey in his short stories does not attempt to finitely box in life through his writing as suggested by Stevenson, but utilises and departs from the realist mode in order to make specific comments and critique society. Realism is most simply a literary framework, and does not stand solely on its own. It encompasses numerous literary modes, which is clearly evident in Carey’s short stories. Both “Peeling” and “Crabs” begin with sense of “verisimilitude” defined by the Concise Oxford Dictionary as “the appearance or semblance of truth or reality; quality of seeming true.” Both short stories have great tension foreshadowing to the reader the departure from the realist mode into a nightmarish realm, which allows Carey to produce a social critique in his work.
Lotze, Heike K., Marta Coll, Anna M. Magera, Christine Ward-Paige, and Laura Airoldi. "Recovery of Marine Animal Populations and Ecosystems." Trends in Ecology & Evolution 26.11 (2011): 595-605. Print.