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Accession: INV-GCES-1110 Research Theme: Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology (Directed Study)
Contributors: Brian R. Silliman, John Griffin
Title: Effects of the relative abundance of predatory mud crabs (Panopeus obesus and Eurytium limosum) on abundances of snails and fiddler crabs in a Georgia salt marsh
Abstract: Predatory mud crabs (Panopeus obesus and Eurytium limosum) are two of the main resident infaunal predators in southeastern US salt marshes. Little is known, however, about their effects on important prey species. These influences are llikely to be dependent on the identity and relative abundances of the two predator species. We therefore manipulated the relative abundances of Panopeus and Eurytium in experimental cages in the field (at Airport Marsh, Sapelo Island, GA). We maintained the treatments over 4 months (July - October 2011), before assessing impacts on predator limb loss (an indicator of interspecific antagonism) and prey densitities (small and large mud fiddler crabs and marsh periwinkles).
DOI: 10.6073/pasta/e953aa082fb7eedebaaa2bc67f87626a
Key Words: Aquatic Invertebrate Monitoring, Eurytium, Littoraria, Panopeus, predation, salt marshes, speciation, Uca
LTER Core Area: Population Studies
Research Themes: Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology
Study Period: 01-Jul-2011 to 01-Oct-2011
Study Sites:
Sapelo -- Sapelo Island, Sapelo Island, Georgia
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Data Table: INV-GCES-1110 (Main data table for data set INV-GCES-1110, 43 records)

Access: Public (released 15-Oct-2013)

Metadata: Text (ESA FLED), XML (Ecological Metadata Language)

Data Formats: Spreadsheet (CSV) [2.41kb],  Text File [1.32kb],  MATLAB (GCE Toolbox) [97.53kb],  MATLAB (Variables) [67.13kb],  Text Report [15.96kb]

Column List:(hide)

Column Name Units Type Description
1 Plot none integer Unique number given to each experimental plot in the field
2 Treatment none string Relative abundances of Panopeus: Euytium
3 Snails count integer Final density of snails per cage (Littoraria irrorata); initial was 1500
4 Flag_Snails none string QA/QC flags for Final density of snails per cage (Littoraria irrorata); initial was 1500 (flagging criteria, where "x" is Snails: x<0="I", x>1500="Q")
5 Fiddlers_small count floating-point Final density of small fiddler crabs (Uca pugnax; holes <8mm diam.) (initial density natural, approx. 3). Average from 2, 30 x 30cm quadrats/plot.
6 Flag_Fiddlers_small none string QA/QC flags for Final density of small fiddler crabs (Uca pugnax; holes <8mm diam.) (initial density natural, approx. 3). Average from 2, 30 x 30cm quadrats/plot. (flagging criteria, where "x" is Fiddlers_small: x<0="I", x>20="Q")
7 Fiddlers_large count floating-point Final density of large fiddler crabs (Uca pugnax; holes >8mm diam.) (initial density natural, approx. 8). Average from 2, 30 x 30cm quadrats/plot.
8 Flag_Fiddlers_large none string QA/QC flags for Final density of large fiddler crabs (Uca pugnax; holes >8mm diam.) (initial density natural, approx. 8). Average from 2, 30 x 30cm quadrats/plot. (flagging criteria, where "x" is Fiddlers_large: x<0="I", x>30="Q")
9 Panopeus_limbs_missing ratio floating-point Average number of missing limbs per Panopeus individual at end of experiment
10 Flag_​Panopeus_​limbs_​missing none string QA/QC flags for Average number of missing limbs per Panopeus individual at end of experiment (flagging criteria, where "x" is Panopeus_limbs_missing: x<0="I", x>10="Q")
11 Eurytium_limbs_missing ratio floating-point Average number of missing limbs per Eurytium individual at end of experiment
12 Flag_​Eurytium_​limbs_​missing none string QA/QC flags for Average number of missing limbs per Eurytium individual at end of experiment (flagging criteria, where "x" is Eurytium_limbs_missing: x<0="I", x>10="Q")
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Citation: Silliman, Brian R. 2011. Effects of the relative abundance of predatory mud crabs (Panopeus obesus and Eurytium limosum) on abundances of snails and fiddler crabs in a Georgia salt marsh. Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project, University of Georgia, Long Term Ecological Research Network. http://dx.doi.org/10.6073/pasta/e953aa082fb7eedebaaa2bc67f87626a

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grants OCE-9982133, OCE-0620959, OCE-1237140 and OCE-1832178. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.