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<p>North Carolina is located in a biogeographic transition zone where temperate and tropical seagrass species, <i>Zostera marina</i> and <i>Halodule wrightii</i>, form seasonal monospecific and mixed meadows. Climate change is altering the relative abundance of <i>Z. marina</i> and <i>H. wrightii</i> which may impact critical nursery habitat for the ecologically and economically important blue crab. This study aimed to determine the impact that shifting seagrass composition may have on habitat utilization by juvenile blue crabs. Five study sites were established in Topsail Sound and Chadwick Bay, North Carolina. Blue crabs were sampled monthly from April to November 2021–2022 in patches dominated by <i>H. wrightii</i>, <i>Z. marina</i>, mixed seagrass assemblages, and unvegetated habitats. Overall higher densities of juvenile blue crabs were found in seagrass meadows compared to unvegetated habitats, regardless of species, highlighting the overall importance of seagrass as one of several critical nursery habitats for blue crabs even at a biogeographical boundary for both seagrass species. When comparing between seagrass species, no differences were found in the Spring and greater densities of juvenile blue crabs were found in <i>H. wrightii</i> patches starting in the Summer for both years. Mixed meadows were an important intermediate habitat during transition periods in seagrass dominance. Juvenile blue crab size class varied significantly across some months and habitats, likely reflecting summer recruitment events. While the continued loss of <i>Z. marina</i> from NC shallow coastal habitats may negatively impact numerous ecosystem services, habitat provision for early juvenile blue crabs may be retained in areas where <i>H. wrightii</i> remains.</p>

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Impacts of Changing Seagrass on Juvenile Blue Crab (Callinectes Sapidus) Habitat Utilization in a Biogeographic Transition Zone

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月27日

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  • George N. Easterly,
  • Jessie C. Jarvis,
  • Troy D. Alphin,
  • Martin H. Posey

摘要

North Carolina is located in a biogeographic transition zone where temperate and tropical seagrass species, Zostera marina and Halodule wrightii, form seasonal monospecific and mixed meadows. Climate change is altering the relative abundance of Z. marina and H. wrightii which may impact critical nursery habitat for the ecologically and economically important blue crab. This study aimed to determine the impact that shifting seagrass composition may have on habitat utilization by juvenile blue crabs. Five study sites were established in Topsail Sound and Chadwick Bay, North Carolina. Blue crabs were sampled monthly from April to November 2021–2022 in patches dominated by H. wrightii, Z. marina, mixed seagrass assemblages, and unvegetated habitats. Overall higher densities of juvenile blue crabs were found in seagrass meadows compared to unvegetated habitats, regardless of species, highlighting the overall importance of seagrass as one of several critical nursery habitats for blue crabs even at a biogeographical boundary for both seagrass species. When comparing between seagrass species, no differences were found in the Spring and greater densities of juvenile blue crabs were found in H. wrightii patches starting in the Summer for both years. Mixed meadows were an important intermediate habitat during transition periods in seagrass dominance. Juvenile blue crab size class varied significantly across some months and habitats, likely reflecting summer recruitment events. While the continued loss of Z. marina from NC shallow coastal habitats may negatively impact numerous ecosystem services, habitat provision for early juvenile blue crabs may be retained in areas where H. wrightii remains.