Field observations of the behavior of mangrove climbing sesarmid crabs in Anibong Bay, Tacloban City, Philippines

Abstract

Two years after Super Typhoon Haiyan, six different species of tree-climbing sesarmid crabs were identified in Anibong Bay. In the three- week surveillance from April to June 2015, crabs were observed climbing the upper premises of the mangrove trees during high tide and moving down to mangal floors (mud) during low tide. Foraging on senescent and decayed leaves occurred both daytime and nighttime. Some crabs were observed bringing food to their mud mounds and burrows. This paper depicts behavioral patterns of sesarmid crabs in reference to its climbing, feeding and burrowing after a large scale disturbance.