Abstract
BackgroundTwo contrasting intertidal habitats on the western Sabah coast (Malaysia), one is a rocky-sandy-mud flat at Sepangar (N6°02′18.57″; E116°06′40.07″) and the other is a mangrove foreshore at Sulaman (N6°15′33.00″; E116°18′49.80″), are characterized by substrate zonation and homogeneous substrate (mud), respectively. Hermit crabs are one of the most conspicuous benthic macrofauna at both sites. The study examined the influence of habitat heterogeneity on the assemblages and shell use pattern of hermit crabs.ResultsThe heterogeneous intertidal flat at Sepangar (five species) supported a higher diversity and abundance of hermit crabs compared to Sulaman mangrove foreshore (two species). Hermit crabs at Sepangar used a greater variety of shells (30 species) compared to those at Sulaman (two species). Zonation of hermit crab species occurred at Sepangar where Diogenes klaasi dominated at the high-tide mark and two Clibanarius species (C. striolatus and C. merguiensis) dominated at the low-tide mark. Considerable overlap in habitat use (mid- and lower shore) occurred between D. tumidus and the two Clibanarius species which appeared to influence shell use pattern.ConclusionsThis study supports the work of others showing that structurally complex habitats will allow habitat partition among species thus explaining the greater diversity and abundance of hermit crabs. Such a heterogeneous habitat provides a wider choice of shells for the hermit crabs, minimizing interspecific competition for the available shell resources.
Highlights
Two contrasting intertidal habitats on the western Sabah coast (Malaysia), one is a rocky-sandy-mud flat at Sepangar (N6°02′18.57′′; E116°06′40.07′′) and the other is a mangrove foreshore at Sulaman (N6°15′33.00′′; E116°18′49.80′′), are characterized by substrate zonation and homogeneous substrate, respectively
Diversity and abundance of the hermit crab community Sepangar shore A total of 850 specimens were collected comprising of five species belonging to two genera from the family Diogenidae: Clibanarius merguiensis, C. striolatus, Diogenes klaasi, D. pallescens and D. tumidus
The greatest diversity was recorded at 100 m (H′ = 1.09) while the lowest at 0 m (H′ = 0.00) where only one species (D. klaasi) was present
Summary
Two contrasting intertidal habitats on the western Sabah coast (Malaysia), one is a rocky-sandy-mud flat at Sepangar (N6°02′18.57′′; E116°06′40.07′′) and the other is a mangrove foreshore at Sulaman (N6°15′33.00′′; E116°18′49.80′′), are characterized by substrate zonation and homogeneous substrate (mud), respectively. Hermit crabs are one of the most conspicuous and ecologically important groups of animals inhabiting intertidal and subtidal habitats (Schembri 1982). These animals are unique for their dependency on gastropod shells as a ‘mobile home’ to protect them from predators (Elwood et al 1995) and reduce the risk of desiccation during emersion at low tide (Bertness and Cunnigham 1981). The adaptation of intertidal animals towards different environmental settings resulted in the formation of distinct ecological niches along the intertidal zone This is exemplified by the unique features of rocky shores that exhibit prominent horizontal bands formed by different types of animals and plants (Nybakken 1982)
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