HORSESHOE CRAB AND ITS SPAWNING GROUND CONDITION IN JOHOR LAMA, JOHOR

Main Article Content

Mohd Razali Md Razak
Zaleha Kassim
Ridhwan Abd Wahab
Noor Yuslida Hazahari

Abstract

This study was conducted at horseshoe crab’s natural spawning ground in Johor Lama, Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia (1°35'00"N 104°00'49"E). Six nests were excavated on 4 August 2020, four hours after the highest tide. Conditions of the spawning site were observed and recorded. Grain size analysis was conducted. Eggs hatching rate, larvae moulting rate, infection rate, and larvae abnormality rate were recorded. There are two types of reclamation observed in Johor Lama: (i) concrete wall and (ii) stack of boulders. Mangrove and muddy areas in Johor Lama are still preserved and in good condition. Sand in the horseshoe crab spawning beach in Johor Lama was coarser and poorly sorted ( : 0.09± 0.01 cm; : 1.89 ± 0.03) as compared to the one in Balok, Pahang (mid-tide mark, August 2012: : 2.38 ± 0.04 cm; : 0.86 ± 0.04). The quantity of the eggs inside each nest in Johor Lama was also in accordance with the other previous studies (first nest n: 256, second nest n: 229, third nest n: 132, fourth nest n: 123, fifth nest n: 149, sixth nest n: 134). However, the hatching rates of each sample in this population were observed to be lower than the others previously studied (31.8% – 66.1%). Two types of larvae abnormalities were reported in this study: (i) genetic impairment that changed the basic Xiphosura’s body plan and (ii) external factor that caused by the impact of the substrate or predatory action that would distort the shape of the juvenile exoskeleton. Based on the observation, the natural ecosystem in Johor Lama is still in good preservation, since it is far from urbanisation and has less deforestation. However, the future of this spawning site is still in doubt, since many ports and industrials zones are located on the opposite side of the river in Johor Bahru district that could lead to the worst water pollution.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

How to Cite
Razak, M. R. M., Kassim, Z., Wahab, R. A., & Hazahari, N. Y. (2022). HORSESHOE CRAB AND ITS SPAWNING GROUND CONDITION IN JOHOR LAMA, JOHOR. Malaysian Journal of Science, 41(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.22452/mjs.vol41no1.1
Section
Original Articles

References

Amoatey, P., Baawain, M. S. (2019). Effects of Pollution on Freshwater Aquatic Organisms. Water Environment Research, 91(10): 1272 – 1287.

Ang, A. (2016). Long-tailed Macaque Feeding on Horseshoe Crab Tachypleus gigas at Tanjung Piai, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia. South-East Asia Vertebrate Record, 51 – 52.

Azwarfarid, M., Faridah, M., Izzatul-Huda, A. G., Fawwaz Afham, M. S., Asyraf, A. A., Amirrudin, B. A. & Ismail, N. (2013). A Preliminary Study on Asian Horseshoe Crab, Tachypleus gigas (Müller, 1785) Nesting Activity in Balok and Cherating, Pahang, Malaysia. Abstract of the 2nd International Conference on Alfred Russel Wallace – His Predecessors and Successors.

Beekey, M. A., Mattei, J. H. & Pierce, B. J. (2013). Horseshoe Crab Eggs: A Rare Resource for Predators in Long Island Sound. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 439: 152 – 159.

Belfiore, N. M. & Anderson, S. L. (2001). Effects of Contaminants on Genetic Patterns in Aquatic Organisms: A Review. Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research, 489(2 – 3): 97 – 122.

Biswal, G. C., Andia, B. N., Pati, S. & Dash, B. P. (2016). Conservation of Indian Horseshoe Crab, Tachypleus gigas through Captive Rearing. Frontiers in Life Sciences, Excel India Publisher, New Delhi, 178 – 181.

Blott, S.J. & Pye, K. (2001). GRADISTAT: A Grain Size Distribution and Statistics Package for The Analysis of Unconsolidated Sediments. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 26: 1237 – 1248.

Botton, M. L., Carmichael, R. H., Shin, P. K. & Cheung, S. G. (2015). Emerging Issues in Horseshoe Crab Conservation: A Perspective from the IUCN Species Specialist Group. In: R. H. Carmichael, M. L. Botton, P. K. S. Shin & S. G. Cheung (Eds.). Changing Global Perspectives on Horseshoe Crab Biology, Conservation and Management, pp. 369 – 381. New York, London: Springer Cham Heidelberg.

Brockmann, H. J., Nguyen, C. & Potts, W. (2000). Paternity in Horseshoe Crabs When Spawning in Multiple-Male Groups. Animal Behaviour, 60: 837 – 849.

Cartwright-Taylor, L., Bing, Y. V., Chi, H. C. & Tee, L. S. (2011). Distribution and Abundance of Horseshoe Crabs Tachypleus gigas and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda Around the Main Island of Singapore. Aquatic Biology, 13: 127 – 136.

Chang E. S. (1992). Endocrinology, In: A. W. Fast & L. J. Lester (Eds.). Marine Shrimp Culture: Principles and Practices. Developments in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science, pp. 53 – 93, Netherlands: Elsevier Science Publisher B.V.

Chen, C. P., Yeh, H. Y. & Lin, P. F. (2004). Conservation of the Horseshoe Crab at Kinmen, Taiwan: Strategies and Practices. Biodiversity Conservation, 13: 1889 – 1904.

Chen, Y., Lau, C. W., Cheung, S. G., Ke, C. H. & Shin, P. K. S. (2010). Enhanced Growth of Juvenile Tachypleus tridentatus (Chelicerata: Xiphosura) in the Laboratory: A Step towards Population Restocking for Conservation of the Species. Aquatic Biology, 11: 37 – 46.

Chung, J. S., Dircksen, H. & Webster, S. G. (1999). A Remarkable, Precisely Timed Release of Hyperglycemic Hormone from Endocrine Cells in The Gut Is Associated with Ecdysis In the Crab Carcinus maenas. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 96(23): 13103 – 13107.

Dall, W. H. B. J., Hill, B. J., Rothlisberg, P. C. & Sharples, D. J. (1990). The Biology of the Penaeidae. The biology of the Penaeidae, 27.

Ewer, J. & Truman, J. W. (1996). Increases in Cyclic 3′, 5′‐Guanosine Monophosphate (cGMP) Occur at Ecdysis in an Evolutionarily Conserved Crustacean Cardioactive Peptide‐Immunoreactive Insect Neuronal Network. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 370(3): 330 – 341.

Fairuz-Fozi, N., Satyanarayana, B., Zauki, N. A. M., Muslim, A. M., Husain, M. L., Ibrahim, S. & Nelson, B. R. (2018). Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (Latreille, 1802) Population Status and Spawning Behaviour at Pendas Coast, Peninsular Malaysia. Global Ecology and Conservation, 15: e00422.

Faizul, M. I. M., Eng, H. T., Christianus, A. & Abdel-Hadi, Y. M. (2015). Bacteria and Fungi Identified on Horseshoe Crabs, Tachypleus gigas and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda In the Laboratory. In: R. H. Carmichael, M. L. Botton, P. K. S. Shin & S. G. Cheung (Eds.). Changing Global Perspectives on Horseshoe Crab Biology, Conservation and Management, pp. 303 – 311. New York, London: Springer Cham Heidelberg.

Faurby, S., King, T. L., Obst, M., Hallerman, E. M., Pertoldi, C. & Funch, P. (2010). Population Dynamics of American Horseshoe Crabs Historic Climatic Events and Recent Anthropogenic Pressures. Molecular Ecology, 19: 3088 – 3100.

Fisher, R. A. & Fisher, D. L. (2006). The Use of Bait Bags to Reduce the Need for Horseshoe Crab as Bait in The Virginia Whelk Fishery. Gloucester, Virginia: Sea Grant Communications, Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Retrieved from: http://web.vims.edu/adv/fisheries/MRR2006_10.pdf

Gauvry, G. (2011). Current Horseshoe Crab Harvesting Practices Cannot Support Global Demand for TAL/LAL. (ERDG, Dover, Delaware, USA) and M.D. Janke (Lonza Walkersville, Inc. Walkersville, MD, USA). Paper presented at the International Workshop on the Science and Conservation of Asian Horseshoe Crabs, Hong Kong Wetland Park, Hong Kong.

Gerhart, S. D. (2007). A Review of The Biology and Management of Horseshoe Crabs, With Emphasis on Florida Populations. Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Technical Reports. St. Petersburg, FL: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 12: 1 – 24.

Hajeb, P., Christianus, A., Zadeh, S. S. & Saad, C. R. (2009b). Sperm Attachment on The Egg of Malaysian King Crab Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda. In: J. T. Tanacredi, M. L. Botton & D. R. Smith (Eds.). Biology and Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs, pp. 237 − 247. New York, London: Springer Cham Heidelberg.

Hajeb, P., Christianus, A., Ismail, A., Zadeh, S. S. & Saad, C. R. (2009a). Heavy Metal Concentration in Horseshoe Crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda and Tachypleus gigas) Eggs from Malaysian Coastline. In: J. T. Tanacredi, M. L. Botton & D. R. Smith (Eds.). Biology and Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs, pp. 455 – 463. New York, London: Springer Cham Heidelberg.

Hong, Y. J., Liao, W., Yan, Z. F., Bai, Y. C., Feng, C. L., Xu, Z. X. & Xu, D. Y. (2020). Progress in the Research of the Toxicity Effect Mechanisms of Heavy Metals on Freshwater Organisms and Their Water Quality Criteria in China. Journal of Chemistry, 2020.

Ismail, N. & Sarijan, S. (2011). Phylogenetic Inference from 18S rRNA Gene Sequences of Horseshoe Crabs, Tachypleus gigas Between Tanjung Dawai, Kedah & Cherating, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia. International Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, 5: 66 – 69.

Ismail, N., Taib, M., Shamsuddin, A. A. & Shazani, S. (2011). Genetic Variability of Wild Horseshoe Crab, Tachypleus gigas (Müller) in Tanjung Dawai, Kedah and Cherating, Pahang of Peninsular Malaysia. European Journal of Scientific Research, 60(4): 574 – 583.

Itow, T., Loveland, R. E. & Botton, M. L. (1998). Developmental Abnormalities in Horseshoe Crab Embryos Caused by Exposure to Heavy Metals. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 35(1): 33 – 40.

Itow, T., Sugita, H. & Sekiguchi, K. (1991). A Phenomenal Decrease of the Horseshoe Crabs in Seto Inland Sea and Its Cause. Bulletin of Management and Information, Jobu University, 4: 29 – 46.

Iwaoka, C. & Okayama, T. (2009). Public Awareness and Community-Based Conservation for the Horseshoe Crab at Saikai National Park in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. In: J. T. Tanacredi, M. L. Botton & D. R. Smith (Eds.). Biology and Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs, pp. 571 – 583. New York, London: Springer Cham Heidelberg.

Jackson, N. L., Smith, D. R. & Nordstrom, K. F. (2005). Comparison of Sediment Grain Size Characteristics on Nourished and Un-nourished Esturine Beaches and Impacts on Horseshoe Crab Habitat, Deleware Bay, New Jersey. Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie, 141: 31 – 45.

Jaffar, N. N. H. (2013). Effect of Temperature on Trilobite Larvae of Malaysian Horseshoe Crab (Tachepleus gigas; Muller) for Better Survival. (Undergraduate thesis, Bachelor of Science Marine Biology, Faculty of Maritime Studies and Marine Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Terengganu).

John, B. A. (2012). Feeding Ecology, Molecular Phylogeny and Tal Production from Malaysian Horseshoe Crabs (Tachypleus gigas & Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) (Doctoral dissertation). Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University, Malaysia.

John, B. A., Jalal, K. C. A. & Kamaruzzaman, B. Y. (2013). Macrobenthic Diversity in Horseshoe Crab Nesting Ground-Balok Station, Pahang, Malaysia. Oriental Journal of Chemistry, 29: 1311 – 1318.

John, B. A., Jalal, K. C. A., Kamaruzzaman, B. Y. & Zaleha, K. (2010). Mechanism in the Clot Formation of Horseshoe Crab Blood during Bacterial Endotoxin Invasion. Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(17): 1930 – 1936.

John, B. A., Kamaruzzaman, B. Y., Jalal, K. C. A. & Zaleha, K. (2012). Feeding Ecology and Food Preferences of Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda Collected from the Pahang Nesting Grounds. Sains Malaysiana, 41(7): 855 – 861.

John, B. A., Nelson, B. R., Sheikh, H. I., Cheung, S. G., Wardiatno, Y., Dash, B. P., Tsuchiya, K. Iwasaki, Y. & Pati, S. (2018). A Review on Fisheries and Conservation Status of Asian Horseshoe Crabs. Biodiversity and Conservation, 27(14): 3573 – 3598.

Kamaruzzaman Y, John A, Megat A, Kassim Z (2011). Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Horseshoe Crabs (Tachypleus gigas) from Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia. Research Journal of Environmental Toxicology, 5: 222 – 228.

Kassim, Z., Shahuddin, H., Shaharom, F. & Chatterji, A. (2008). Abundance of Three Species of the Horseshoe Crab along the Coast of Malaysia. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 105: 209 – 211.

Kota Tinggi Local Plans 2020. (2017). Retrieved from http://geoportal.johor.gov.my/pdf/1-LaporanWartaRTD/FULL_RTDKT_JILID2.pdf

Laughlin, R. (1983). The Effects of Temperature and Salinity on Larval Growth of The Horseshoe Crab Limulus polyphemus. Biol. Bull. 164: 93 – 103.

Levitan, D. R. (1993). The Importance of Sperm Limitation to The Evolution of Egg Size in Marine Invertebrates. American Naturalist, 141: 517 – 536.

Liang, Y. Q., Annammala, K. V., Martin, P., Yong, E. L., Mazilamani, L. S. & Najib, M. Z. M. (2020). Assessment of Physical-Chemical Water Quality Characteristics and Heavy Metals Content of Lower Johor River, Malaysia. Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques, 8(3): 961 – 966.

Liew, P. L., Ng, W. L. & Tan, S. G. (2015). Levels and Patterns of Genetic Variation in an Asian Horseshoe Crab Species, Tachypleus gigas Müller, From the Malay Peninsula. Marine Biology Research, 11(8): 879 – 886.

Manca, A., Mohamad, F., Nelson, B. R., Mohd Sofa, M. F. A., Alia’m, A. A. & Ismail, N. (2016). Trailing the Spawning Horseshoe Crab Tachypleus gigas (Müller, 1785) at Designated Natal Beaches on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Cell Development Biology, 5: 171.

Mazlan, A. G., Zaidi, C. C., Wan-Lotfi, W. M. & Othman, B. H. R. (2005). On the Current Status of Coastal Marine Biodiversity in Malaysia. Indian Journal of Marine Sciences, 34(1): 76 – 87.

Mohd Razali, M. R. & Zaleha, K. (2017). Fishery Aspect of Horseshoe Crab [Tachypleus gigas (Müller, 1785)] in the Peninsular Malaysia: Exploitation Status. Universal Journal of Applied Science, 5(2): 11 – 15.

Muda, W. M. L. W., Samat, A., Cob, Z. C. & Mazlan, A. G. (2010). Checklist of Marine Epibenthic Invertebrate Species from Mersing, Johor. The Studies of Johor East Coast: Preserve Mersing Heritage. Pusat Penyelidikan Ekosistem Marin, UKM, 203 – 212.

Naqvi, S. B., Mirza, T., Sheikh, D., Abbas, T. (2004). Application of Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (Lal) Test for Detecting Endotoxin (Pyrogen) In Large Volume Parenteral. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 17(1): 89 – 94.

Nelson, B. R., Satyanarayana, B., Moh J. H. Z., Shaharom, F. Sukumaran, M. & Chatterji, A. (2015). Episodic Human Activities and Seasonal Impacts on The Tachypleus gigas (Müller, 1795) Population at Tanjung Selangor in Peninsular Malaysia. Estuaries, Coasts and Shelf Science, 164: 313 – 323.

Nelson, B. R., Satyanarayana, B., Moh, J. H. Z., Ikhwanuddin, M., Chatterji, A. & Shaharom, F. (2016). The Final Spawning Ground of Tachypleus gigas (Müller, 1785) on the East Peninsular Malaysia is at Risk: A Call for Action. PeerJ, 4: e2232.

Nelson, B. R., Zhong, J. M. H., Zauki, N. A. M., Satyanarayana, B. & Chowdhury, A. J. K. (2019). Effects of Shore Sedimentation to Tachypleus gigas (Müller, 1785) Spawning Activity from Malaysian Waters. Journal of Sustainability Science and Management, 14(1): 41 – 60.

Ngy, L., Yu, C. F., Takatani, T., Arakawa, O. (2007). Toxicity Assessment for the Horseshoe Crab Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda Collected from Cambodia. Toxicon, 49(6): 843 – 847.

Nordstrom, K. F., Jackson, N. L., Smith, D. R. & Weber, R. G. (2006). Transport of Horseshoe Crab Eggs by Waves and Swash on an Estuarine Beach: Implications for Foraging Shorebirds. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 70: 438 – 448.

Pennington, J. T. (1985). The Ecology of Fertilization of Echinoid Eggs: The Consequences of Sperm Dilution, Adult Aggregation, and Synchronous Spawning. Biological Bulletin, 169: 417 – 430.

Phlippen, M. K., Webster, S. G., Chung, J. S. & Dircksen, H. (2000). Ecdysis of Decapod Crustaceans is Associated with A Dramatic Release of Crustacean Cardioactive Peptide into The Haemolymph. Journal of Experimental Biology, 203: 521 – 536.

Pilkey, O. H., Rice, T. M. & Neal, W. J. (2004). How to Read a North Carolina Beach: Bubble Holes, Barking Sands, and Rippled Runnels. UNC Press Books.

Rahman, S. (2019). Honing in on the Horseshoe Crab. The Iskandarian. Retrieved from https://www.theiskandarian.com/live-play/honing-in-on-the-horseshoe-crab/

Razak, M. R. M. & Kassim, Z. (2018a). Comparison of Horseshoe Crabs (Tachypleus gigas) Morphometry between Different Population Using Allometric Analysis. AACL Bioflux, 11(1): 143.

Razak, M. R. M. & Kassim, Z. (2018b). Feeding Mechanisms of Adult Tropical Horseshoe Crab, Tachypleus gigas toward Feeds' Conditions. ASM Sci. J., 11(2): 78 – 88.

Razak, M. R. M. & Kassim, Z. (2018c). Food Intake, Gut Transit Time, and Defecation Pattern of Asian Horseshoe Crab, Tachypleus gigas. ASM Sci. J., 11(2): 56 – 67.

Razak, M. R. M., Kassim, Z., Sabuti, A. A. & Ismail, A. (2017). Feeding Ecology and Food Preferences of Cherok Paloh, Pahang Horseshoe Crab, Tachypleus gigas. Malaysian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, 13(3): 198 – 202.

Schreibman, M. P. & Zarnoch, C. B. (2009). Aquaculture Methods and Early Growth of Juvenile Horseshoe Crabs (Limulus polyphemus). In: J. T. Tanacredi, M. L. Botton & D. R. Smith (Eds.). Biology and Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs, pp. 501 – 511. Springer Science+Business Media, New York.

Shakiba Zadeh, S. H., Christianus, A., Saad, C. R., Hajeb, P. & Kamarudin, M. S. (2009). Comparisons in Prosomal Width and Body Weight among Early Instar Stages of Malaysian Horseshoe Crabs, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda and Tachypleus gigas in the Laboratory. In: J. T. Tanacredi, M. L. Botton & D. R. Smith (Eds.). Biology and Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs, pp. 267 – 274. New York, London: Springer Cham Heidelberg.

Shinohara, B. (1989). Changes of Breeding Conditions of Sea Coasts of Shikoku. In: K. Sekiguchi (Ed.). The Present Condition of Japanese Horseshoe Crabs, pp. 57–77. Kasaoka, Japan.

Skinner, D. M. (1985). Moulting and Regeneration. In: D. E. Bliss, (Ed.). The Biology of Crustacea – Integument, Pigments, and Hormonal Processes, pp. 44 – 128. New York: Academic Press, Inc.

Smith, M. D., Schrank, H. E. & Brockmann, H. J. (2013). Measuring the Costs of Alternative Reproductive Tactics in Horseshoe Crabs, Limulus polyphemus. Animal Behaviour, 85(1): 165 – 173.

State Structure Plan 2030 of Johor. (2016). Retrieved from http://epublisiti.townplan.gov.my/turun/rsn_johor2030/ringkasan.pdf

Sulaiman, N. K., Rashid, M. F., Misnan, S. H. & Ngah, I. (2019). Rural Web as A Tool to Project Trajectories for Green Economy. In: J. S. Lim, N. A. Yunus & H. A. Hoang (Eds.). The 5 th International Conference on Low Carbon Asia & Beyond-ICLCA 2019, pp. 13 – 18. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: Science and Technics Publishing House.

Sultana, S., Jabeen, F., Sultana, T., Al-Ghanim, K. A., Al-Misned, F. & Mahboob, S. (2019). Assessment of Heavy Metals and Its Impact on DNA Fragmentation in Different Fish Species. Brazilian Journal of Biology, (AHEAD).

Tan, A. N., Christianus, A., Shakibazadeh, S. & Hajeb, P. (2012). Horseshoe Crab, Tachyples gigas (Muller, 1785) Spawning Population at Balok Beach, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. Pak. J. Biol. Sci, 15: 610 – 620.

Yamamichi, Y., Sugita, H. & Sekiguchi, K. (1983). Morphological Characterization of First Instar Larvae of Asian Horseshoe Crabs and Their Hybrids* (Horseshoe Crabs/Interspecific Hybrids/Larvae). Development, Growth & Differentiation, 25(3): 271 – 280.

Yan, H. (2008). The Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs in Hong Kong (Master dissertation). Hong Kong: Department of Biology and Chemistry. City University of Hong Kong.

Yap, C. K., Chew, W., Cheng, W. H., Okamura, H., Harino, H., Peng, S. H. T., Ismail, M. S. & Seng, C. (2019). Higher Bioavailability and Contamination by Copper in the Edible Mussels, Snails and Horseshoe Crabs at Kampung Pasir Puteh: Evidence of an Industrial Effluent Receiving Site at Pasir Gudang Area. Advancements in Bioequivalence & Bioavailability, 2(5).

Yung, C. H. (2015). Morphometric Variations and Population Size of Horseshoe Crab (Tachypleus gigas) in Teluk Senangin, Perak, Malaysia: BSc dissertation, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia.

Zaleha, K., Hazwani, I., Siti Hamidah, H., Kamaruzzaman, B. Y. & Jal al, K. C. A. (2011). Effect of Salinity on the Egg Hatching and Early Larvae of Horseshoe Crab Tachypleus gigas (Muller, 1785) in Laboratory Culture. Journal of Applied Sciences, 11: 2620 – 2626.