Faculty Publications

Can Tolerances Of Multiple Stressors And Calculated Safety Margins In Fiddler Crabs Predict Responses To Extreme Environmental Conditions Resulting From Climate Change?

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Flooding regime, Gelasiminae, Multiple stressors, Predicted climate change, Salinity challenge, Submersion and desiccation, Temperature

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Volume

179

Abstract

To comprehend mangrove crab responses to predicted global climate changes, we assessed submersion and desiccation survival durations and salinity tolerances and upper thermal limits in fiddler crabs from Isla del Carmen, Yucatán Peninsula. Based on their tolerances of extreme ambient conditions, we also calculated safety margins using abiotic monitoring data. The two most terrestrial species, Minuca rapax and Leptuca panacea, exhibited submersion tolerances of from 22 to 40 h, and desiccation tolerances of from 30 to 55 h; LC50's were ≈45‰S and UT50's were ≈40 °C. The two least terrestrial species, M. vocator and L. speciosa, were less tolerant of all experimental challenges, showing submersion and desiccation tolerances of <6 >h, and LC50's of 36‰S and UT50's of 38 °C. While these fiddler crabs inhabit niches closer to their salinity and desiccation/submersion tolerances than to their temperature limits, all are clearly vulnerable to the multiple stressors that accompany anticipated global climate change.

Department

Department of Biology

Original Publication Date

6-1-2022

DOI of published version

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113674

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