The Role of Horseshoe Crabs in the Biomedical Industry and Recent Trends Impacting Species Sustainability
Every year the Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) arrives on shore to spawn, a sight once taken for granted. However, in addition to the gradual climate changes impacting all ecosystems, commercial demand from the widespread application of Atlantic horseshoe crab blood in industrial endoto...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2018.00185/full |
| _version_ | 1818929094201442304 |
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| author | Jordan Krisfalusi-Gannon Jordan Krisfalusi-Gannon Waleed Ali Waleed Ali Kristen Dellinger Lee Robertson Terry E. Brady Melinda K. M. Goddard Rachel Tinker-Kulberg Christopher L. Kepley Christopher L. Kepley Anthony L. Dellinger Anthony L. Dellinger |
| author_facet | Jordan Krisfalusi-Gannon Jordan Krisfalusi-Gannon Waleed Ali Waleed Ali Kristen Dellinger Lee Robertson Terry E. Brady Melinda K. M. Goddard Rachel Tinker-Kulberg Christopher L. Kepley Christopher L. Kepley Anthony L. Dellinger Anthony L. Dellinger |
| author_sort | Jordan Krisfalusi-Gannon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Every year the Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) arrives on shore to spawn, a sight once taken for granted. However, in addition to the gradual climate changes impacting all ecosystems, commercial demand from the widespread application of Atlantic horseshoe crab blood in industrial endotoxin testing and steady use as eel and whelk bait has brought the future of this enduring species into question. In response, regulations have been adopted to enhance the traceability and record keeping of horseshoe crab harvest, which has historically been difficult to track. However, these regulations do not restrict or limit LAL harvest in any significant manner. Still, sometimes-lethal biomedical bleeding process and associated behavioral changes pose a risk to horseshoe crab viability after bleeding and once returned to the waters. As a result, regulators and environmentalists are concerned that current trends and overfishing of this marine arthropod will significantly impact the surrounding ecosystem. This review examines their role and recent trends in the biomedical industry that are impacting these ancient creatures and the derivative effect on shorebirds, while considering emerging alternatives where feasible, as well as ways to ensure sustainable and pragmatic harvesting strategies. Ultimately, healthy populations of horseshoe crabs are vital to restoring and maintaining ecosystems while balancing the need for medical and research applications entirely dependent on these unique creatures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:39:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-900ae7f31aea4b52b71dce1e1e11bada |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:39:20Z |
| publishDate | 2018-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-900ae7f31aea4b52b71dce1e1e11bada2022-12-21T19:54:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452018-06-01510.3389/fmars.2018.00185328233The Role of Horseshoe Crabs in the Biomedical Industry and Recent Trends Impacting Species SustainabilityJordan Krisfalusi-Gannon0Jordan Krisfalusi-Gannon1Waleed Ali2Waleed Ali3Kristen Dellinger4Lee Robertson5Terry E. Brady6Melinda K. M. Goddard7Rachel Tinker-Kulberg8Christopher L. Kepley9Christopher L. Kepley10Anthony L. Dellinger11Anthony L. Dellinger12Kepley Biosystems Incorporated, Greensboro, NC, United StatesHigh Point University, High Point, NC, United StatesKepley Biosystems Incorporated, Greensboro, NC, United StatesDepartment of Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United StatesJoint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, Greensboro, NC, United StatesKepley Biosystems Incorporated, Greensboro, NC, United StatesKepley Biosystems Incorporated, Greensboro, NC, United StatesClienTell® Consulting, LLC, The Valley, AnguillaJoint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, Greensboro, NC, United StatesKepley Biosystems Incorporated, Greensboro, NC, United StatesClienTell® Consulting, LLC, The Valley, AnguillaKepley Biosystems Incorporated, Greensboro, NC, United StatesJoint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, Greensboro, NC, United StatesEvery year the Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) arrives on shore to spawn, a sight once taken for granted. However, in addition to the gradual climate changes impacting all ecosystems, commercial demand from the widespread application of Atlantic horseshoe crab blood in industrial endotoxin testing and steady use as eel and whelk bait has brought the future of this enduring species into question. In response, regulations have been adopted to enhance the traceability and record keeping of horseshoe crab harvest, which has historically been difficult to track. However, these regulations do not restrict or limit LAL harvest in any significant manner. Still, sometimes-lethal biomedical bleeding process and associated behavioral changes pose a risk to horseshoe crab viability after bleeding and once returned to the waters. As a result, regulators and environmentalists are concerned that current trends and overfishing of this marine arthropod will significantly impact the surrounding ecosystem. This review examines their role and recent trends in the biomedical industry that are impacting these ancient creatures and the derivative effect on shorebirds, while considering emerging alternatives where feasible, as well as ways to ensure sustainable and pragmatic harvesting strategies. Ultimately, healthy populations of horseshoe crabs are vital to restoring and maintaining ecosystems while balancing the need for medical and research applications entirely dependent on these unique creatures.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2018.00185/fullbiomedical industryecological statushorseshoe crabLimulus amebocyte lysate assayLimulus polyphemusmigrating shorebirds |
| spellingShingle | Jordan Krisfalusi-Gannon Jordan Krisfalusi-Gannon Waleed Ali Waleed Ali Kristen Dellinger Lee Robertson Terry E. Brady Melinda K. M. Goddard Rachel Tinker-Kulberg Christopher L. Kepley Christopher L. Kepley Anthony L. Dellinger Anthony L. Dellinger The Role of Horseshoe Crabs in the Biomedical Industry and Recent Trends Impacting Species Sustainability Frontiers in Marine Science biomedical industry ecological status horseshoe crab Limulus amebocyte lysate assay Limulus polyphemus migrating shorebirds |
| title | The Role of Horseshoe Crabs in the Biomedical Industry and Recent Trends Impacting Species Sustainability |
| title_full | The Role of Horseshoe Crabs in the Biomedical Industry and Recent Trends Impacting Species Sustainability |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Horseshoe Crabs in the Biomedical Industry and Recent Trends Impacting Species Sustainability |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Horseshoe Crabs in the Biomedical Industry and Recent Trends Impacting Species Sustainability |
| title_short | The Role of Horseshoe Crabs in the Biomedical Industry and Recent Trends Impacting Species Sustainability |
| title_sort | role of horseshoe crabs in the biomedical industry and recent trends impacting species sustainability |
| topic | biomedical industry ecological status horseshoe crab Limulus amebocyte lysate assay Limulus polyphemus migrating shorebirds |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2018.00185/full |
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