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  • Ghost crab

    Ghost crab camouflaged among the sand

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Ghost crabs on mid-west beaches

Ghost crabs are highly abundant on beaches in a range of locations throughout the world, where they have been shown to play an important role in cleaning beaches of carrion (dead animals) and providing a food resource for predators. Ghost crabs have also been observed in high abundances on beaches in the mid-west of Western Australia, but there is a clear lack of data on their abundances and their role in those beach systems. Beach-cast wrack (seaweed and seagrass accumulations) is a major feature of beaches in the region, and this material has been shown to be an important part of the food web of many beaches around the world. It is, therefore, possible that wrack plays a critical role in sustaining ghost crab populations in the region. Since ghost crabs are impacted by off-road vehicles in other parts of Australia and elsewhere, there is a clear need to understand the abundances and ecological roles of this group of beach fauna in the mid-west region.

This project forms the basis for a Masters by Research study by Ms Cailtin Rae, who will quantify ghost crab abundances along the beaches and dunes of the mid-west region and determine the influence of beach-cast wrack on their abundances and feeding patterns, as well as their role in moving marine material into the dunes and provide food and nutrients to dune systems.

Funding agency

WA Landskills Inc

Project duration

July 2014-June 2016

Researchers

Ms Caitlin Rae (Masters student)
Professor Glenn Hyndes (Supervisor)
Dr Michael Payne, Northern Agricultural Catchment Council (Supervisor)
Associate Professor Thomas Schlacher, University of the Sunshine Coast (Supervisor)

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