Sara Sarcona
Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental
Science
23 January 2019
Abstract
The Emerita analoga population is dependent on the overall density and
saturability of sand in order to survive the winter; therefore, beach
replenishment may impact the population of sand crabs within certain
locations. As filter feeders, Emerita analoga ingest the toxins that
contaminate the shorelines; therefore, they conduct processes that are
essential to preserving beach ecosystems. For this reason, scientists can utilize
information gathered regarding the populations of Emerita analoga within a
certain region to determine if an ecosystem is healthy. Additionally, several
species of fish, including but not limited to Trachinotus carolinus (pompano)
and Scomberomorus cavalla (king mackerel), are dependent on the
population of sand crabs because they serve as a primary consumers and are
secondary dietary resources. Any alterations in the Emerita analoga
population would result in drastic fluctuations across several species and could
potentially result in an unstable environment. In effect, the sediment utilized
in the process of beach nourishment may negatively impact Emerita analoga;
hence, it is hypothesized that the population of sand crabs will be higher along
the shores of replenished beaches
Figure 1: Emerita analoga burrow four feet into the
ground at a forty-five degree angle and remain there for
approximately five months.
Introduction
Emerita analoga, otherwise referred to as sand crabs or sand
moles, inhabit the temperate western coasts of the United States as
well as select regions on the East Coast, including New Jersey,
North Carolina, and Florida (“Sand Crabs,” 2016). Prior to
developing into Megalopae, sand crabs undergo five larval stages.
During the megalopodal stage of their lives, Emerita analoga
colonize along the swash zones of sandy beaches by burrowing into
the sand so that their first set of antennae and eyes are their only
organs that are exposed to the sea (S. Morgan et al., 2001). This
occurs as the sand crabs feed prior to their hibernating season,
which occurs from November to May each year (Harvey, 1993).
A suitable habitat for hibernating is crucial for sand crabs as
they must ensure that they will not dislodge from the sediment.
However, many beaches along the Jersey Shore are being
replenished in order to counter the effects of coastal erosion (“Sand
Crab Guide,” 2018). Beach nourishment involves replenishing
quantities of sand with sediments from other sources in order to
decelerate the process of erosion (Cartwright & Wilson, 2017). This
process can alter sand composition and density and therefore
influence where sand crabs are able to hibernate. This project
collects the abundance of sand crabs between replenished and
non-replenished beaches in New Jersey and studies the differences
in the beaches’ sand compositions to find out what habitat is most
suitable for sand crab hibernation.
Impact of Sediment Characteristics on Discussion
T-tests conducted with the results from our experiment
Emerita analoga Hibernation Location show a statistically significant difference in sand crab
(Emerita analoga) abundance in natural beaches and
replenished beaches (Table 5). As expected, a higher
abundance of burrow holes was found on the natural beach
Objective
(Island Beach State Park) than on the replenished beach
(Brick Beach III). Previous studies have shown that East
Explore how sand crabs’ granular and organic sediment preferences effects where they Coast beaches continuously use incompatible sediment to
spawn and hibernate when present in specific concentrations. replenish their shores (Cartwright & Wilson 2017). Most of
the sediment used for replenishment are from inland
sources that contain chemicals not previously introduced to
Methodology Results the habitat. Emerita analoga are filter feeders that live in
the swash-zone and, as a result of replenishment, ingest
● Attain the proper equipment that is required in order to conduct The twelve soil samples collected from Brick Beach III
the experiment, such as a core sampler, quadrat, a geological and Island Beach State Park primarily consisted of sand chemicals that are not meant to exist in their natural
sieve, and a convection oven. and silt. The lowest percentage of sand at Brick Beach III habitats (Sand Crab Guide 2018). This makes it difficult for
● Travel to Brick Beach III, which undergoes beach replenishment,
was 96.18% (1095.54 g) and the highest percentage was Emerita analoga to thrive in their natural habitats
and utilize the quadrat to determine the number of Emerita
97.60% (1325.74 g) (Table 1). At Island Beach State Park, (Cartwright & Wilson 2017). Additionally, a big portion of a
analoga burrows there are within 50 square meters along the
shoreline. Repeat this process in three different locations along the lowest percentage of sand was 98.75% (873.65 g) while
the highest was 99.23% (984.23 g) (Table 2). A t-test filter feeders diet includes plankton. This main food source
the beach.
● Once the sand crab population data is recorded, utilize the core conducted on sand percentages (α = 0.05) between the two washes up and down the shore and seeps into the sediment
sampler to acquire sediment samples from each of the three sites returned a p-value < 0.001. The lowest percentage of where it clings to clay (Huisman Et al. 2006). Results from
locations where the sand crabs were located. Examine and silt at Brick Beach III was 1.33% (18.1 g) (Table 3) and the the study show a greater percentage of clay in the natural
document the observable features. highest percentage was 1.99% (22.71 g) (Table 1). At Island
● Repeat Steps 2 and 3, but on Island Beach State Park, which does Beach State Park, the lowest percentage of silt was 0.51%
beach sample relative to the replenished beach. This
not undergo beach replenishment. connection is reflected by the greater abundance of burrow
(5.09 g) while the highest was 0.69% (6.12 g) (Table 2). A
● Place the sediment samples in the convection oven and set it to
150 degrees. Allow for the water to be extracted for 12 hours prior t-test conducted on silt percentages (α = 0.05) between the holes found at the natural beach and supports the
to removing the samples. two sites returned a p-value < 0.001. Sand crab burrow importance of the sediment composition of a natural beach
● Once the samples have cooled, place each sample (individually) holes were counted at each site. At Brick Beach III the
to Emerita analoga abundance.
into the geological sieve and separate the sediment particles. lowest amount of burrow holes recorded was 13 and the
Group the remaining sediments by difference in density. highest amount was 31. At Island Beach State Park, the
● Identify the sediment types and determine which one is most lowest amount of burrow holes recorded was 37 and the
prevalent in each of the locations.
● Repeat Steps 1-7 once every week for two weeks. Six sediment
highest amount was 66 (Figure 4). A t-test conducted on
burrow hole amounts (α = 0.05) between the two sites
Conclusion
samples will be collected at each beach, totaling 12 sediment
composition analyses. returned a p-value <0.001. A correlation analysis between Overall, sediment from Brick Beach III contained
● Statistical Analysis: Compare the data between the two sites by percentage of clay and number of burrow holes returned a relatively less sand and more pebble and silt than
conducting t-tests assuming unequal variances with t.test() in coefficient of 0.806. sediment from Island Beach State Park. Sediment from
R. An alpha of 0.05 was used to determine significance. A Island Beach State Park, on the other hand, contained a
correlation was then run using cor()between the number of
burrows that were discovered and percentages of clay. higher percentage of sand and clay. Burrow hole counts
from Emerita analoga on Brick Beach III were also
significantly lower than those on Island Beach State
Park. Differences in Emerita analoga abundance is
likely due to presence of unnatural toxins in replenished
sand and the amount of clay available to capture
plankton.
Acknowledgements
Thank you Mr. David Werner for supervising our experiment and for
providing us with your professional input. We would also like to thank
Figure 2: The locations along Figure 3: The locations along Figure 4: Burrow hole counts were taken at three locations along the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science
Brick Beach III that were Island Beach State Park that Brick Beach III and Island Beach State Park (IBSP) on December 8, (MATES) for providing us with the materials necessary to collect and
sampled on December 8, 2018. were sampled on December 8, 2018 and December 30, 2018. analyze our data. Lastly, thank you Mr. Anthony Sarcona for providing
2018. transportation to the sediment collection sites.
Table 1: The sediment composition within the samples
collected along three regions of Brick Beach III on
Table 2: The sediment composition within the
samples collected along three regions of Island Beach
Table 5: Sediment composition analysis was run on all twelve
December 8, 2018. State Park on December 8, 2018.
sample from Brick Beach III and Island Beach State Park (IBSP).
t-tests were run between the two datasets using R with an alpha
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