Asian Horseshoe Crabs
Biology, Ecology, Conservation, and Utilization
- 1st Edition - June 1, 2024
- Imprint: Academic Press
- Editors: Menghong Hu, Paul KS Shin
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 5 6 3 7 - 3
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 5 6 3 6 - 6
Asian Horseshoe Crabs: Biology, Ecology, Conservation, and Utilization provides a comprehensive and updated look at horseshoe crabs, often dubbed “living fossils.” Overf… Read more
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Request a sales quoteAsian Horseshoe Crabs: Biology, Ecology, Conservation, and Utilization provides a comprehensive and updated look at horseshoe crabs, often dubbed “living fossils.” Overfishing and environmental pressures have endangered these crustaceans, making this book essential for their protection. Authored by international experts, it focuses on three species: Tachypleus tridentatus, Tachypleus gigas, and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, covering their evolution, reproduction, physiology, and behaviors. Moreover, the book delves into the genomics and population dynamics of horseshoe crabs, examining their significance in human consumption and biomedical research, and including the use of blue blood and chitin.
Conservation efforts and practices are also discussed, making this book a valuable resource for marine biologists, students, and academics.
- Includes the latest research and data on Asian horseshoe crab species and their current statuses on the IUCN Red List
- Addresses current research limitations and deficiencies in protection strategies
- Helps readers understand and protect the fourth horseshoe crab species, Limulus polyphemus, found along the Atlantic coast of the United States and the Southeast Gulf of Mexico
Researchers and practitioners in marine biology, ecology, and conservation
Chapter 1 Biology and Physiology of Asian horseshoe crabs
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Classification, morphology, and distribution
1.3 Life stages and development
1.4 Reproduction
1.5 Hemolymph
1.6 Future research directions
References
Description: This chapter provides a brief introduction of Asian horseshoe crab species and their distribution, and presents current information on their growth, development, reproduction and various biomolecules in the hemolymph, based on recently published literature. The physiological response of horseshoe crabs to different environmental stressors is highlighted, and future research direction on understanding the molecular mechanism of horseshoe crab biology and physiology is discussed.
Chapter 2 Evolution, Genomics, and Genetic Studies of Asian Horseshoe Crabs
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Evolution and genomes of Asian horseshoe crabs
2.3 Molecular population genetic studies
2.4 Application of environmental DNA techniques
2.5 Future research directions
References
Description: This chapter presents the current information on the genome sequence of the three Asian horseshoe crab species, and the use of various genetic markers to identify the genetic diversity among Asian horseshoe crab populations. The potential applications of environmental DNA (eDNA) in investigating geographic distribution and abundance, and future research on fine-scale landscape/seascape genetics, population genomic studies, and population genetic profiling are discussed.
Chapter 3 Population and Ecology of Asian Horseshoe Crabs
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Population density and structure
3.3 Methods for population monitoring
3.4 Habitat utilization, activity, and home range
3.5 Trophic relationships and inter-specific interactions
3.6 Environmental perturbations and ecology of Asian horseshoe crabs
3.7 Conclusion and future prospects
References
Description: This chapter provides a synopsis of population information on Asian horseshoe crabs within their geographical range, and discusses various methods in monitoring of their population and distribution. The chapter also highlights the study of various aspects of the ecology of Asian horseshoe crabs based in recent literature.
Chapter 4 Exploitation and Utilization of Asian horseshoe crabs
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Human consumption
4.3 Tachypleus amebocyte lysate (TAL)
4.4 Tachylesin
4.5 Chitin
4.6 Conclusion and future prospects
References
Description: The exploitation and utilization of Asian horseshoe crabs are summarized in this chapter, with focus on human consumption and the application of amebocyte lysate from the hemolymph of horseshoe crabs. In addition, the chapter details the recent research in the potential applications of tachylesin and chitin, derived from the hemolymph and carapace of horseshoe crabs, respectively. How to balance the sustainable use of horseshoe crabs with their ecological preservation in order to ensure the continued availability of these valuable resources for future applications is also discussed.
Chapter 5 Conservation and Management of Asian horseshoe crabs
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Current population and habitat status
5.3 Threats to Asian horseshoe crabs
5.4 Management and protection strategies
5.5 Community outreach programs
5.6 Artificial breeding and culture
5.7 Conclusion and future prospects
References
Description: This chapter examines the current population status and the habitat conditions of Asian horseshoe crab across their distribution range, where data are available, and summarize the threats to Asian horseshoe crabs and potential management strategies for further protecting them. The chapter also highlights the ongoing conservation efforts in this regard, and discusses the ex-situ conservation measure through artificial breeding and culture of Asian horseshoe crabs
Chapter 6 What we know and do not know about Asian horseshoe crabs
6.1 Introduction
6.2 General summary
6.3 Limitations of existing studies
6.4 Lessons from American horseshoe crab conservation
6.5 Conclusion and future prospects
References
Description: This chapter provides a summary of existing information on Asian horseshoe crabs and examines how the conservation and management of American horseshoe crabs be applied to protecting horseshoe crabs in Asia. The limitations of current studies on Asian horseshoe crabs are highlighted and suggestions for future studies are discussed.
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Classification, morphology, and distribution
1.3 Life stages and development
1.4 Reproduction
1.5 Hemolymph
1.6 Future research directions
References
Description: This chapter provides a brief introduction of Asian horseshoe crab species and their distribution, and presents current information on their growth, development, reproduction and various biomolecules in the hemolymph, based on recently published literature. The physiological response of horseshoe crabs to different environmental stressors is highlighted, and future research direction on understanding the molecular mechanism of horseshoe crab biology and physiology is discussed.
Chapter 2 Evolution, Genomics, and Genetic Studies of Asian Horseshoe Crabs
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Evolution and genomes of Asian horseshoe crabs
2.3 Molecular population genetic studies
2.4 Application of environmental DNA techniques
2.5 Future research directions
References
Description: This chapter presents the current information on the genome sequence of the three Asian horseshoe crab species, and the use of various genetic markers to identify the genetic diversity among Asian horseshoe crab populations. The potential applications of environmental DNA (eDNA) in investigating geographic distribution and abundance, and future research on fine-scale landscape/seascape genetics, population genomic studies, and population genetic profiling are discussed.
Chapter 3 Population and Ecology of Asian Horseshoe Crabs
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Population density and structure
3.3 Methods for population monitoring
3.4 Habitat utilization, activity, and home range
3.5 Trophic relationships and inter-specific interactions
3.6 Environmental perturbations and ecology of Asian horseshoe crabs
3.7 Conclusion and future prospects
References
Description: This chapter provides a synopsis of population information on Asian horseshoe crabs within their geographical range, and discusses various methods in monitoring of their population and distribution. The chapter also highlights the study of various aspects of the ecology of Asian horseshoe crabs based in recent literature.
Chapter 4 Exploitation and Utilization of Asian horseshoe crabs
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Human consumption
4.3 Tachypleus amebocyte lysate (TAL)
4.4 Tachylesin
4.5 Chitin
4.6 Conclusion and future prospects
References
Description: The exploitation and utilization of Asian horseshoe crabs are summarized in this chapter, with focus on human consumption and the application of amebocyte lysate from the hemolymph of horseshoe crabs. In addition, the chapter details the recent research in the potential applications of tachylesin and chitin, derived from the hemolymph and carapace of horseshoe crabs, respectively. How to balance the sustainable use of horseshoe crabs with their ecological preservation in order to ensure the continued availability of these valuable resources for future applications is also discussed.
Chapter 5 Conservation and Management of Asian horseshoe crabs
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Current population and habitat status
5.3 Threats to Asian horseshoe crabs
5.4 Management and protection strategies
5.5 Community outreach programs
5.6 Artificial breeding and culture
5.7 Conclusion and future prospects
References
Description: This chapter examines the current population status and the habitat conditions of Asian horseshoe crab across their distribution range, where data are available, and summarize the threats to Asian horseshoe crabs and potential management strategies for further protecting them. The chapter also highlights the ongoing conservation efforts in this regard, and discusses the ex-situ conservation measure through artificial breeding and culture of Asian horseshoe crabs
Chapter 6 What we know and do not know about Asian horseshoe crabs
6.1 Introduction
6.2 General summary
6.3 Limitations of existing studies
6.4 Lessons from American horseshoe crab conservation
6.5 Conclusion and future prospects
References
Description: This chapter provides a summary of existing information on Asian horseshoe crabs and examines how the conservation and management of American horseshoe crabs be applied to protecting horseshoe crabs in Asia. The limitations of current studies on Asian horseshoe crabs are highlighted and suggestions for future studies are discussed.
- Edition: 1
- Published: June 1, 2024
- Imprint: Academic Press
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN: 9780443156373
- eBook ISBN: 9780443156366
MH
Menghong Hu
Dr. Menghong Hu is Associate Professor in the College of Fisheries and Life Science at Shanghai Ocean University. She received her BSc and MSc in Aquaculture from Huazhong University and her PhD in Marine Biology from the City University of Hong Kong. Dr. Hu brings 20 years of experience to the project, and her research focuses on the utilization of aquatic animal resources, physiological and ecological responses of aquatic organisms to environmental stressors, and conservation of endangered marine animals. She is currently co-editing Elsevier’s Asian Horseshoe Crabs.
Affiliations and expertise
Shanghai Ocean University, ChinaPK
Paul KS Shin
Dr. Paul K.S. Shin is an Emeritus Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry (formerly the Department of Biology and Chemistry) at the City University of Hong Kong. He is a benthic community ecologist. His research focuses on the composition and structure of marine benthic communities in response to environmental perturbations, ranging from events of pollution, dredging, bottom trawling, to hypoxia. He is also interested in the functioning and trophodynamics of benthic ecosystems, the ecology of artificial reefs, and marine conservation, especially of “living fossils” in the sub-tropics, including lancelets and horseshoe crabs. Dr. Shin is a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, UK, and has extensive experience in environmental consulting for the government and international funding agencies such as the World and Asian Development Banks. Currently, he serves as the Co-Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Horseshoe Crab Specialist Group. He is an Associate Editor of the Marine Pollution Bulletin published by Elsevier.
Affiliations and expertise
City University of Hong Kong, China