The importance of burrowing and leaf litter feeding crabs for the ecosystem functioning of mangrove forests

Abstract

Studies have emphasized the importance of burrowing and leaf litter feeding crabs for functioning of mangrove ecosystems. Crabs can influence sediment characteristics, energy and nutrient cycling and, consequently, other ecosystem components such as tree growth. Yet, the impact of crab activity on ecosystem processes, and subsequently on ecosystem functioning, is unclear. This thesis aims to better understand the role of large burrowing and leaf litter feeding crabs, using Ucides cordatus (Ucididae) as study organism, in sediment processes and, based on these processes, in the ecosystem functioning of a Brazilian mangrove forest. Results are evaluated in the thesis synthesis to understand the importance of U. cordatus, but also of burrowing and leaf litter feeding crabs in general, for mangrove ecosystems.