Archive for the ‘Spawning’ Category

Horseshoe Crab and Red Knots situation getting better

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

It seems that the horseshoe crab conservation efforts are starting to show signs of working. It’s still a little early in the migration to be definitive, but it’s looks good so far. Read “red knots gaining weight in 2009″

This year the horseshoe crab population has shown signs of improved numbers and the red knots that depend on their eggs to give them the energy to complete their journey to their breading grounds in the Artic are getting enought eggs to bring them up to optimum weight.

This is a preview of Horseshoe Crab and Red Knots situation getting better. Read the full post (139 words, 5 images, estimated 33 secs reading time)

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Posted in Atlantic Horseshoe Crab, Census, Conservation, Horseshoe Crab Harvest, Limulus Polyphemus, Red Knot, Spawning | No Comments »

Horseshoe Crab Reproduction – a slim chance of survival

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

Horseshoe crabs have a unique reproductive strategy.

The female horseshoe crab, with a male horseshoe crab in tow will come up to the shore line and lay up to 20,000 eggs in a number of shallow nests that she makes along the beach.

After laying the eggs she pulls the male over the nest when he then fertilizes the eggs.

It’s a good thing that she lays so many eggs because they then leave the nest unattended and the eggs are then open for predators to eat, mainly shorebirds.

This is a preview of Horseshoe Crab Reproduction – a slim chance of survival. Read the full post (185 words, 5 images, estimated 44 secs reading time)

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Posted in Lifecycle, Reproduction, Spawning | No Comments »