Prevalence of shore crabs in San Juan Island via crab survey

Abstract

As the effects of global warming increase the frequency and scale of stressful environmental conditions, it has become more and more important to understand how we can support local ecosystems adapt and stay healthy. To do this, the general abundances and dynamics of different species in individual ecosystems must be understood, thus providing the bases of healthy ecosystems. Shore crabs play important ecological roles in their ecosystems, as both scavengers that eat almost anything and as prey for animals such as sea birds and fish. The goal of this study was to conduct crab abundance surveys and compare data from this project to that of previous years (Yamada, 2021). From the previous data, it was expected that yellow shore crabs would be the most common species counted. The results show that abundances of local crab species have been consistent throughout the years of 2013-2024.