Estuary- Environmental Journal

Environmental Science Journal An estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal body of water that flows into an open sea. The Tunneling Mud Crab is one of the most popular crabs that live in this area. The scientific name for this marine animal is Austrohelice crassa. They’re habitat is located within 30 meters of water (100 feet). They are usually found along the coast of New Zealand in the upper tidal zone. The abiotic factors that are settled in an estuary are seaweed, sea grass, shells, and algae. The demands of this environment are that there must be a lot of food available. The food obtainable here is very abundant, but the supply can run short. Due to all of the marine life that lives here, they depend on three meals a day, which shortages the stock. The Tunneling Mud Crab is identical to the color of the sand. They blend and camouflage with the sea floor, which causes predators to miss and avoid them. Another adaptation they acquire is agility. The ability to have agility allows them to run at high speeds and catch prey 92% of the time. They use their claws to capture the food and then scurry back to a spot where they can enjoy their feast peacefully. Their predators are any animal larger than them. For example, sharks, salmon, jellyfish, and squid feast off of Tunneling Mud crabs. These crabs depend on small fish, plankton, and even seaweed for a delightful meal. The competition with crabs is Crabs vs. Humans. Yes, crabs are very delicious to eat, but by removing so many from the ocean daily, we are ruining this animal’s environment and ecosystem. Crabs reproduce very quickly, though. When females are pregnant, they hold the fertilized eggs in a mass between her abdominal flap and her body. The female must keep these eggs healthy by pushing water over the eggs with pleopods. Crabs migrate all four seasons of the year. During the winter and fall, they will find a habitat that features warm, calm waters, while in the spring and summer, they will try to locate to