Asian Horseshoe Crabs
Biology, Ecology, Conservation, and Utilization
- 1st Edition - November 1, 2025
- Latest edition
- Editors: Menghong Hu, Paul KS Shin
- Language: English
Asian Horseshoe Crabs: Biology, Ecology, Conservation, and Utilization provides a comprehensive and updated look at horseshoe crabs, often dubbed “living fossils.” Overf… Read more
Asian 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
- Applies lessons learned from protecting 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
- Edition: 1
- Latest edition
- Published: November 1, 2025
- Language: English
MH
Menghong Hu
Dr. Menghong Hu is a Professor in the College of Fisheries and Life Science at Shanghai Ocean University. She received her BSc and MSc in Aquaculture from Huazhong Agricultural 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 an Associate Editor of the journal Aquaculture published by Elsevier.
Affiliations and expertise
Professor in the College of Fisheries and Life Science at 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
Emeritus Associate Professor in the Department of Biology and Chemistry (now the Department of Chemistry) at the City University of Hong Kong, China