Transcript HEMS 10B - Volusia Academies

Our objective was to determine the levity of the porcelain
crab population residing in a given area on chicken
island, we placed 2x2.5 foot crates in four different
locations using kayaks to deploy them around the island
near oyster beds, weekly we would check and record data
from one crate to the next.
Green porcelain crabs in the Atlantic reach 0.4 - 0.6
inches shell width, though specimens from the
Pacific grow significantly larger. These small, flat
crabs are typically orange-brown to dark brown as
adult. Juveniles are similarly colored, but have a
lighter, speckled appearance. The claws are elongate,
flattened, and equal. As is a characteristic for all
porcelain crabs, the antennae are external. Not like in
most other crab families.
Green porcelain crabs inhabit many different
shallow inter-tidal and sub-tidal habitats. They
can be especially common in rock rubble, oyster
reefs and among dock pilings.
Grass Shrimp
Mangrove Snapper
Blue Claw Crab
Oyster Toad Fish
Stone Crab
Pistol Shrimp
Dolphins
Common Mud Crab
Goby
Name
# male
# Female
Total Number
Porcelain Crab
8
10
18
Common mud crab
10
12
22
Blue claw crab
2
3
5
Stone crab
1
1
2
Goby
4
5
9
Mangrove snapper
3
2
5
Pistol shrimp
4
2
6
AS you can see the number of green porcelain crabs is high
because of their introduction into our ecosystem. If some thing
is not done about this the number will climb even higher. Since
porcelain crabs eat anything on the oysters and the dock pylons.
Their numbers are strictly increasing and will soon over come
the native species which is a big problem because the native
crab population will decrease.
If something isn’t done about about
the rising porcelain crab numbers
then they will soon take over all of
the ecosystems were crabs dwell.
And destroy the oyster habitat for
all species that use it for shelter.