Distribution and habitat structure of Ocypode gaudichaudii H. Milne Edwards & Lucas, 1843, in sandy beaches of Northern Chile

Ten sandy beaches along the coast of northern Chile (20-23 degreesS) were studied in December 1998, to examine the distribution, abundance, and habitat characteristics of the crab Ocypode gaudichaudii. Beach width. slope, and intertidal fringes were identified, and Dean's parameter, describing beach morphodynamic status, was calculated. Crabs were collected and burrows and physical characteristics of the burrow zones analysed. The burrow zone extended primarily across the dry and retention zones. Physical properties across the burrow areas did not influence burrow characteristics. Significant differences in burrow density were detected both within and among the 10 sandy beaches. These differences were not related to morphodynamic beach types, but could be explained by related aspects, such as the height of the drift line, and the width and slope of dry and retention zones. We linked these results to behavioural and not just to physical causes.PT: J; CR: DUGAN JE, 1991, J EXP MAR BIOL ECOL, V150, P63 DUGAN JE, 1996, REV CHIL HIST NAT, V69, P579 EMERY KO, 1938, J SEDIMENT PETROL, V8, P105 EMERY KO, 1961, LIMNOL OCEANOGR, V6, P90 JAMES RJ, 1996, ESTUAR COAST SHELF S, V43, P81 JARAMILLO E, 1987, VIE MILLIEU, V37, P165 JARAMILLO E, 1993, ESTUAR COAST SHELF S, V37, P615 JARAMILLO E, 1993, MAR ECOL-PROG SER, V101, P105 JARAMILLO E, 1998, REV CHIL HIST NAT, V71, P459 KOEPCKE H, 1953, CONTRIBUCION CONOCIM, V13, P9 KOEPCKE HW, 1952, PUBLICACION MUSEO NA, V8, P1 KURIHARA Y, 1989, MAR BIOL, V101, P153 LUCAS, 1843, CRUSTACEANA, V71, P47 MCARDLE SB, 1992, J COASTAL RES, V8, P398 MCLACHLAN A, 1980, J ZOOL, V15, P57 MCLACHLAN A, 1993, J COASTAL RES, V15, P27 MCLACHLAN A, 1995, J EXP MAR BIOL ECOL, V187, P147 MCLACHLAN A, 1995, OCEANOGR MAR BIOL, V33, P305 SEWARDTHOMPSON B, 1973, SEDIMENTOLOGY, V11, P83 SHOBER UM, 1993, MAR BIOL, V116, P53 SHORT AD, 1983, SANDY BEACHES ECOSYS, P133 SHUCHMAN E, 1978, MAR BIOL, V49, P255 SOKAL RR, 1994, BIOMETRY, P1 TROTT TJ, 1988, CRUSTACEANA, V55, P217 WADA K, 1993, MAR BIOL, V115, P47 WARBURG MR, 1979, MAR BEHAV PHYSL, V6, P147 WOLCOTT TG, 1978, J EXP MAR BIOL ECOL, V31, P67; NR: 27; TC: 3; J9: CRUSTACEANA; PN: Part 1; PG: 13; GA: 420GTSource type: Electronic(1