Spatial distribution of shore crabs Carcinus maenas in an intertidal environment in relation to their morphology, prey availability and competition.

The article presents a study that assesses the role of predator morphology, prey availability and competition in the determination of the spatial distribution of the benthic predator, shore crabs or Carcinus maenas, in an intertidal environment. The study involved assessment of the abundance of shore crabs at high tide in the Dutch Wadden Sea intertidal mudflats alongside with the measurement of food availability in the site. It was found that the abundance of prey species, Crangon crangon, has a role in the abundance of the crabs in the gullies. It notes that shore crabs are potential predators of shrimps and the optimal foraging behaviour of benthic crabs can be tested by incorporating morphological characteristics and various prey types with free distribution models.