Detailed project information for Study Plan Number 02092

Branch :	Aquatic Ecology Branch
Study Plan Number :	02092
Study Title :	Multi-Scale Habitat Modeling for Horseshoe Crab Spawning in Delaware Bay
Starting Date :	03/01/2003
Completion Date :	09/30/2006
Principal Investigator(s) :	Young, John A. and Smith, Dave R.
Primary PI :	Young, John A.
Telephone Number :	(304) 724-4469
Email Address :	john_a_young@usgs.gov
SIS Number :
Primary Program Element :	Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Second Program Element :
Status :	Completed
Abstract :	BACKGROUND Horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) are vital to shorebird populations (as a food source), whelk fisheries (as bait), and the biomedical industry (as a source for drug testing media); therefore declines in horseshoe crab populations could have serious implications. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) placed high priority on spawning habitat assessment in the Horseshoe Crab Fishery Management Plan. Shuster and Botton (1985) suggested that a contributing factor to horseshoe crab population decline may be spawning habitat degradation. Threats to habitat included development, hard structures such as jetties, bulkheads, and revetments, and erosion. Previous habitat assessments have resulted in a habitat suitability model (Brady and Schrading 1996) and a white paper by Mark Thompson and Carl Shuster (unpubl. report), which reviewed habitat studies and outlined habitat requirements. Critical to habitat assessment is the recognition that factors operate on multiple spatial scales to determine habitat selection and quality. At the baywide scale, migratory pathways, salinity, and ocean waves influence habitat selection. At the beach level, selection is influenced by such factors as beach geomorphology and geochemistry, exposure of the beach to wind-generated wave energy, and proximity to nursery habitat. We propose to expand previous habitat assessments through the development of a series of GIS-based habitat models that take into account multi-scale factors that determine habitat selection and quality. The models will serve as hypotheses that will be tested through comparing model predictions and observations of horseshoe crab spawning. OBJECTIVES 1) To develop a series of GIS-based models of horseshoe crab spawning habitat. 2) To use the habitat models to predict relative levels of spawning and compare the predictions to observed levels of spawning. To improve habitat models through the comparison of predicted and observed spawning behavior. 3) To use the habitat models as a decision support system to guide management decisions that could affect horseshoe crab spawning habitat. HYPOTHESIS TO BE TESTED The predictive models developed will serve as hypotheses that will be tested through comparing model predictions to observations of horseshoe crab spawning.
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