Supratidal
land crabs synchronizing the release of larvae with the lunar and
diurnal cycles
We studied the breeding migration and larval release of
two supratidal land crabs, Cardisoma
carnifex and Epigrapsus
notatus, in the mixed semidiurnal tidal regime. The habitats of
these crabs lack cues associated with high tide and lunar-related
variation in tidal amplitude. The primary finding indicates that both
species were able to synchronize the release of their larvae with the
lunar and diurnal cycles. It is worth mentioning that unlike most
intertidal crabs, these two crabs did not primarily release larvae
during larger amplitude nocturnal tides or immediately following high
tide. Consequently, it appears that these crabs rely on the lunar and
diurnal cycles of light as cues to time the release of their larvae.

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Studies, here
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