Horseshoe Crab Release

Over the past few years Rutgers University has released more than 250,000 horse shoe crabs into the wild near Cape May for several reasons.  Horseshoe crabs are an important part of the shore ecosystems, but there is a 90% mortality rate for these crabs in the wild, so Rutgers Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences grows these crabs and lets them develop enough to give them a better chance of survival and then releases them into the wild.  Horseshoe crabs are important for various reasons, they are an important food source for many endangered shore birds who depend on their eggs to make long migrations.  The decline in crab population has had a direct effect on the population of migrating shore birds, especially the red knot.  The horseshoe crab population is in danger from loss of habitat, commercial fishing, and pollution.  Fishermen use the horseshoe crabs when they are young as bait to catch eels and other fish.  The young horseshoe crabs are raised in large rectangular tanks where they can be observed which has allowed researcher to learn more about their habits and behaviors. Horse shoe crabs are also of interest to medical and drug companies because of a rare gene in their blood which they use to test contamination.   These scientists hope that their work will have a positive effect on not only horseshoe crabs but on entire ecosystems on the shore.

http://www.thedailyjournal.com/story/news/local/new-jersey/2014/09/29/rutgers-lab-churning-baby-horseshoe-crabs/16440393/
http://memberfiles.freewebs.com/30/66/84536630/photos/Things-I-think-are-beautiful/baby%20horseshoe%20crabs%20006.JPG