The diets of juvenile horseshoe crabs,Tachypleus tridentatus and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (Xiphosura), from nursery beaches proposed for conservation in Hong Kong

Once common as a fishery resource, adult horseshoe crabs of two species occur in Hong Kong. A third, Tachypleus gigas, can no longer be found. Once common too were breeding and nursery beaches for horseshoe crabs in Hong Kong but overfishing of adults, pollution and coastal reclamation have reduced these to but three identified sandy mudflats and only one where juvenile Tachypleus tridentatus and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda are sympatric. Nothing is known, however, of the conservation requirements of these two species locally and this study of the diets of these juvenile horseshoe crabs on two such nursery beaches aimed at providing information on this most elementary aspect of their biology. Gut contents of juvenile horseshoe crabs, i.e. nine Tachypleus tridentatus (8.5–67?mm prosoma width) and two Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (50 and 52?mm prosoma width), were analysed and compared with the composition of the ambient assemblage of meiobenthos on a nursery beach at Pak Nai, Hong Kong. The obtained data suggest that juvenile horseshoe crabs of both species are selective benthic feeders and subsist mainly on insect larvae, polychaetes, oligochaetes, small crabs and thin-shelled bivalves. A strong, positive, preference for insect larvae (Chironomous sp.: Diptera: Chironomidae) was recorded, but with no preference for meiofauna over macrofauna.     

鲎保育的三赢策略

鲎有活化石之称,不仅是古生物学的重要研究对象,亦是医药试剂的原料,保育鲎不仅维系了人类生存,更是促进人类文明的跃升。但近年来,鲎被人类大量捕食、采血及破坏栖息地,种群大规模下降,迫切需要得到保育。根据世界自然保护联盟(IUCN)指南,鲎的物种保育工作以划设鲎保护区、增加鲎的种群量以及促进大众参与保育为重点。研究结果显示:在中国南部沿海,中国鲎(Tachypleus tridentatus)与圆尾鲎(Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda)的稚鲎共同栖息在有红树林分布的河口,这两种鲎的食物中大约60%的碳源来自海草衍生的食物;在户外养殖条件下,稚鲎与方斑东凤螺(Babylonia areolata)混养能够加速稚鲎脱壳率并提高存活率,因而可以获得大量适合放流的稚鲎(3龄)。本文在现有的研究成果基础上提出鲎保育的三赢策略:支持有效的海岸及河口保护区经营管理,在保护区内维系鲎的种群,对大众与小区进行鲎资源的明智利用宣教。     

Spatial and temporal distributions of juvenile horseshoe crabs (Arthropoda: Chelicerata) approaching extirpation along the northwestern shoreline of the New Territories of Hong Kong SAR,China

Juvenile horseshoe crabs, Tachypleus tridentatus and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, with prosomal widths of between 11.5 and 102.5 mm, occur along Hong Kong's northwestern shoreline abutting Deep Bay where dissolved oxygen (DO) has been identified as the principal factor determining distribution and survival. Unreported upon hitherto, however, Tachypleus tridentatus occurred consistently in association with sea-grass (Halophila beccarii) beds, with DO concentrations of 8–14 mg·L^?1, a median grain size of >180 μm, interstitial water contents of <36% (sediment wet weight) and organic contents of <3.2% (sediment dry weight). Most individuals occurred between 60 and 120 m down from the shoreline although there appeared to be a trend of down-shore migration in summer, possibly to alleviate thermal stress. No individuals were found at sediment temperatures ≤20°C, i.e. in sub-tropical Hong Kong's winter, when they adopt buried repose. Abundances of emerged T. tridentatus, peaking in November, were synchronized with interstitial salinities of 22–26‰ and averaged 1–2 individuals per 100 m². Mean population density of T. tridentatus was 4–9 individuals per 100 m². Only four individuals of C. rotundicauda were found in August and September, suggesting a recent dramatic decline in numbers. The natal crèche environment for juvenile horseshoe crabs in Hong Kong is deteriorating and threatening their survival.     

中国鲎微卫星引物扩增圆尾鲎DNA的PCR反应体系优化

采用正交设计法,从dNTPs浓度、引物浓度、Mg2+浓度、Taq DNA聚合酶用量4个因素3个水平出发,优化设计圆尾鲎DNA的PCR反应体系(引物为中国鲎微卫星引物).并采用直观分析方法分析正交试验结果,最终建立了圆尾鲎SSR-PCR最佳反应体系:总体积20μL,Taq DNA聚合酶1.5 U、dNTPs 0.16 mmol/L、引物0.2μmol/L、Mg2+2.0 mmol/L;并通过PCR梯度实验进一步优化模板DNA质量浓度、退火温度及退火时间,获得最佳反应条件:模板DNA质量浓度为30 ng/μL,退火温度为48℃,退火时间为20～25 s.对最佳反应体系和反应条件进行了检验,结果显示该反应体系稳定性高、重复性好.     

The morphological differentiation of two horseshoe crab species,Tachypleus tridentatus and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (Xiphosura), in Hong Kong with a regional Asian comparison

Two horseshoe crab species, namely Tachypleus tridentatus and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, have been identified from Hong Kong. This paper describes the morphological characteristics of the two species and the morphometrics employed to help distinguish them. Comparisons were also made between adults from local waters and those from other Asian geographic regions. Intra-specific variations were also investigated by comparing morphological data obtained for local T. tridentatus juveniles and individuals of comparable sizes from Fujian Province, China. Morphological differences between the species and sexes and significantly different morphometric ratios were identified for the two horseshoe crab species. Intra-specific variations in morphometric characteristics were also demonstrated between juveniles from local beaches and those from Fujian.