Reef crab population changes after oil spill disaster reach Brazilian tropical environments

Santana, Julianna L.; Rios, Aline S.; Calado, Tereza Cristina S.; Zanardi-Lamardo, Eliete; Souza-Filho, Jesser F.

Reef crab population changes after oil spill disaster reach Brazilian tropical environments

2022

Santana, Julianna L. | Rios, Aline S. | Calado, Tereza Cristina S. | Zanardi-Lamardo, Eliete | Souza-Filho, Jesser F.

The oil spill that reached Brazilian Coast in 2019 was one of the most extensive disasters and its effects on distinct species are still under investigation. This study evaluated the effects of the oil spill on the crab Pachygrapsus transversus in four reef areas in Northeast of Brazil that are also under different levels of chronic anthropogenic impacts. Changes in population aspects were investigated including maturity, sex ratio, and relative growth considering periods before and after the oil spill. An acute decrease in the number of females captured in areas most affected by oil spill was evident and may be associated with the closure of burrows used for protection. Crabs from the most touristic area presented a decrease in the medium size of carapace and maturation compared to crabs from other less visited areas, which highlights the importance of studying the effects of impacts on marine fauna.

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