Telemetry reveals migratory drivers and disparate space use across seasons and age‐groups in American horseshoe crabs
Abstract Identifying mechanisms that underpin animal migration patterns and examining variability in space use within populations is crucial for understanding population dynamics and management implications. In this study, we quantified the migration rates, seasonal changes in migratory connectivity...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Ecosphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3811 |
| _version_ | 1818716905877274624 |
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| author | Justin J. Bopp Matthew Sclafani Michael G. Frisk Kim McKown Catherine Ziegler‐Fede David R. Smith Robert M. Cerrato |
| author_facet | Justin J. Bopp Matthew Sclafani Michael G. Frisk Kim McKown Catherine Ziegler‐Fede David R. Smith Robert M. Cerrato |
| author_sort | Justin J. Bopp |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Identifying mechanisms that underpin animal migration patterns and examining variability in space use within populations is crucial for understanding population dynamics and management implications. In this study, we quantified the migration rates, seasonal changes in migratory connectivity, and residency across population demographics (age and sex) to understand the proximate cues of migration timing in American horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus). Juvenile (n = 25) and adult (n = 70) horseshoe crabs were tracked with acoustic telemetry techniques for a 3‐yr period in Moriches Bay, NY. Connectivity metrics and residency probability were quantified through spatial network analysis and empirically derived Markov Chain models (EDMC), respectively. The migratory probability of adult horseshoe crabs between Moriches Bay and the Atlantic Ocean was estimated to be 41.0% (95% CI: 34.0–59.8); in contrast, only 8% (95% CI: 1.2–31.6) of juveniles migrated into the ocean. Migration timing was influenced by the interaction of photoperiod and temperature, revealing seasonal differences in migration timing and a 50% narrower range of photoperiod and temperature over which fall migrations occurred compared to spring. Sex‐specific differences in space use and connectivity within each season were largely absent; however, centralized habitats were important for maintaining connectivity across all seasons. EDMC results revealed that when standardized to the number of horseshoe crab detections on each receiver, the centrally located habitats in Moriches Bay and Inlet accounted for >50% of the total relative residency probability within most seasons, indicating these areas may be preferred by adult horseshoe crabs. Ontogenetic differences in maximum spatial extent, space use, and connectivity were observed in the bay, as juveniles exhibited lower linkages between locations (n = 4) relative to adults (n = 13) during the same temporal period. Our work highlights the application of novel quantitative approaches for addressing the movement dynamics of horseshoe crabs that can be readily applied to other taxa in the context of wildlife conservation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T19:26:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45d72fb1a1e943538796aee5c3ece92c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-8925 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T19:26:41Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-45d72fb1a1e943538796aee5c3ece92c2022-12-21T21:35:22ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252021-10-011210n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.3811Telemetry reveals migratory drivers and disparate space use across seasons and age‐groups in American horseshoe crabsJustin J. Bopp0Matthew Sclafani1Michael G. Frisk2Kim McKown3Catherine Ziegler‐Fede4David R. Smith5Robert M. Cerrato6School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook University 145 Endeavour Hall Stony Brook New York 11794 USASchool of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook University 145 Endeavour Hall Stony Brook New York 11794 USASchool of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook University 145 Endeavour Hall Stony Brook New York 11794 USANew York State Department of Environmental Conservation 205 North Belle Meade Road, Suite 1 East Setauket New York 11733 USANew York State Department of Environmental Conservation 205 North Belle Meade Road, Suite 1 East Setauket New York 11733 USAUnited States Geological Survey Eastern Ecological Science Center 11649 Kearneysville Road Kearneysville West Virginia 25430 USASchool of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook University 145 Endeavour Hall Stony Brook New York 11794 USAAbstract Identifying mechanisms that underpin animal migration patterns and examining variability in space use within populations is crucial for understanding population dynamics and management implications. In this study, we quantified the migration rates, seasonal changes in migratory connectivity, and residency across population demographics (age and sex) to understand the proximate cues of migration timing in American horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus). Juvenile (n = 25) and adult (n = 70) horseshoe crabs were tracked with acoustic telemetry techniques for a 3‐yr period in Moriches Bay, NY. Connectivity metrics and residency probability were quantified through spatial network analysis and empirically derived Markov Chain models (EDMC), respectively. The migratory probability of adult horseshoe crabs between Moriches Bay and the Atlantic Ocean was estimated to be 41.0% (95% CI: 34.0–59.8); in contrast, only 8% (95% CI: 1.2–31.6) of juveniles migrated into the ocean. Migration timing was influenced by the interaction of photoperiod and temperature, revealing seasonal differences in migration timing and a 50% narrower range of photoperiod and temperature over which fall migrations occurred compared to spring. Sex‐specific differences in space use and connectivity within each season were largely absent; however, centralized habitats were important for maintaining connectivity across all seasons. EDMC results revealed that when standardized to the number of horseshoe crab detections on each receiver, the centrally located habitats in Moriches Bay and Inlet accounted for >50% of the total relative residency probability within most seasons, indicating these areas may be preferred by adult horseshoe crabs. Ontogenetic differences in maximum spatial extent, space use, and connectivity were observed in the bay, as juveniles exhibited lower linkages between locations (n = 4) relative to adults (n = 13) during the same temporal period. Our work highlights the application of novel quantitative approaches for addressing the movement dynamics of horseshoe crabs that can be readily applied to other taxa in the context of wildlife conservation.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3811acoustic telemetryhorseshoe crabsmigratory connectivitymovement ecologynetwork analysispartial migration |
| spellingShingle | Justin J. Bopp Matthew Sclafani Michael G. Frisk Kim McKown Catherine Ziegler‐Fede David R. Smith Robert M. Cerrato Telemetry reveals migratory drivers and disparate space use across seasons and age‐groups in American horseshoe crabs Ecosphere acoustic telemetry horseshoe crabs migratory connectivity movement ecology network analysis partial migration |
| title | Telemetry reveals migratory drivers and disparate space use across seasons and age‐groups in American horseshoe crabs |
| title_full | Telemetry reveals migratory drivers and disparate space use across seasons and age‐groups in American horseshoe crabs |
| title_fullStr | Telemetry reveals migratory drivers and disparate space use across seasons and age‐groups in American horseshoe crabs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Telemetry reveals migratory drivers and disparate space use across seasons and age‐groups in American horseshoe crabs |
| title_short | Telemetry reveals migratory drivers and disparate space use across seasons and age‐groups in American horseshoe crabs |
| title_sort | telemetry reveals migratory drivers and disparate space use across seasons and age groups in american horseshoe crabs |
| topic | acoustic telemetry horseshoe crabs migratory connectivity movement ecology network analysis partial migration |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3811 |
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