Physiological ecology of crabs from Saudi Arabian mangrove

Abstract

One crab, the ocypodid Uca inversa inversa, occurs at the top of the eulittoral zone where it constructs burrows. Measurements of microclimate show that these burrows provide essential protection from environmental extremes. The grapsid Metopograpsus messor occurs throughout the mangrove and makes strategic use of the mangrove vegetation in order to minimized the effects of thermal stress, though some crabs opportunistically utilize burrows. M. messor appears to be more vulnerable to thermal stress than U. inversa. -from Authors