June 2011 - Horseshoe Crabs Spawn Research at SoundWaters

The Horseshoe Crabs arrived early this year in their annual journey from the waters of Long Island Sound, to lay their eggs at the coastline.

The spawning season, which typically gears up from late May through June, caught everyone by surprise as dozens of crabs found their way to Cove Island Park a couple weeks earlier than usual.

But we were ready. Each year, SoundWaters engages in an important scientific study of the travel habits of the Horseshoe Crab, by tagging the creatures that come near our shore. We expect to tag more than 1,000 this season.

Learning about Horseshoe Crabs, however, takes place year-round at SoundWaters. Since last July, more than 17,000 students have discovered how this key species is an indicator of the health of the Sound.

The Center's aquarium, open and free to the public, features a large touch tank with live Horseshoe Crabs, informative displays on its lifecycle, and a self-guided audio-tour.

Horseshoe Crabs have been around since before the dinosaurs, but scientists know very little about where they go once they leave their spawning sites and whether they return to the same site in following years.

The tagging project, which records where a Horseshoe Crab is tagged and where it is recaptured, will help provide this information with details that are logged into a data base managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The research conducted at SoundWaters is in partnership with Project Limulus: A Study Examining the Ecology of the Long Island Sound Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus) population, coordinated by scientists at Sacred Heart University.

But it relies on active participation by organizations such as SoundWaters. Our staff recruits and trains volunteer citizen-scientists at the Center and during our annual Horseshoe Crab Day, which was held this year on June 4.

These creatures may look scary, but are harmless. In fact, their blue, copper-based blood serves a vital medical function: Every intravenous medication is tested with Horseshoe Crab blood for indications of bacteria. Most important, these ancient creatures engage residents in the amazing narrative taking place outside, on the beaches of Long Island Sound.

As you're walking the beach, keep your eyes out for this marvelous animal. And if you see a tagged one, be sure and call the toll free number on the tag (and return the crab to the water). You'll be helping uncover a scientific mystery.

Regards,

Leigh Shemitz, Ph.D.

Executive Director

SoundWaters