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Sedigh Azizi, Reza Naderloo, Adnan Shahdadi, Mohammad Sharif Ranjbar,
Volume 13, Issue 4 (11-2024)
Abstract
Mudflats are situated at the interface between land and sea, transitioning from submerged during high tide to exposed during low tide. For burrowing animals, especially crabs, mudflats serve not only as nesting sites but also as feeding grounds. This study aimed to examine the morphology and estimate the density, of the crab Leptochryseus kuwaitense using their burrows in the mudflats of Khor-Khoran during the winter 2023. For this purpose, the mudflat above the mangroves was divided into three zones: the upper intertidal (station one), the mid-intertidal (station two), and the lower intertidal (station three) zones. The results of the study showed that the number of burrows was higher in the mid-intertidal zone compared to the other two zones, likely due to higher moisture levels and less human pressure. The diameter of the burrow entrances increased from station one to station three, with a significant difference observed between station one and station three . The morphology and structure of the burrows in the lower intertidal zone were more complex, likely due to competition with other species.
