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Coconut Crabs as a Target for Promoting the Establishment of Marine Protected
Areas on Green Island, Taiwan
C.P. Chen1,2,3, S.T. Lin2,3, F.L. Wang1
1 Institute of Fishery Science, National Taiwan University, Taiwan2 Institute of Zoology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan3 Research Center for Biodiversity, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
Marine Protected Area (MPA)
MPA establishment combining local community and ecosystem
Local Community Coconut Crabs
Green Island
Local empowerment
Conservation
Green Island introduction
History Ecology
• Coral reef ecosystem
Hard corals:176 spp.
Soft corals:27 spp.
Fishes:602 spp.Green Island
Map of Green Island.
16.2 km2
3200 people Mountain peak of Green Island is 281m
Photos available at http://green.taitung.gov.tw/caption/ca_page1.asp
A threatened species, list on the Red list of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 1983
Protected by the Wildlife Conservation Law in Taiwan since 1995.
Coconut crab, Birgus latro .
Coconut crab, Birgus latro
Phylum Arthropoda Class Crustacea Order Decapoda Infraorder Anomura Family Coenobitidae Genus Birgus
Birgus latro (Linnaeus, 1767)
1 mm
1 cm
10cm
Zoeal stages
Glaucothoe
Juvenile crab
1 mm
Metamorphosis
Spawning
Adult
Ⅰ
Ⅱ
Ⅲ
Ⅳ
Ⅴ
Rocky coastsOcean
Emergence
Life history of the coconut crab, Birgus latro.
Why we choose coconut crabs as an umbrella species of Green Island?
Relationship between coconut crabs and local residents– as children’s pet in early days
The ecological importance of coconut crabs, including:– large body size
– Unique ecological niche
– long life history
– the unique life of this migrating species, as adults occur in terrestrial mountain areas
Successfully conserving the habitat of coconut crabs will not only protect the coastal zones and nearby waters, but also land areas
Threats to coconut crabs on Green Island
• Illegal harvesting
— population of coconut crabs declined rapidly.
• Too many infrastructures
— harm its habitats and block its spawning pathway.
• Environmental deterioration
— habitat fragmentation
Current tourism state of Green Island
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Year
Thou
sand
per
sons
Number of tourists visiting
Green Island from 1991 to 2003 Carrying capacity:
2000 persons/day
(Calculating by ECG international,
1993)
SARS
Number of monthly tourists
from 1991 to 2003July is the peakAveraged of last five July is
64,077 persons
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Month
Tho
usan
d pe
rson
s
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Three actions for coconut crab conservation
• Basic survey and larval culture of coconut crabs
• Habitat conservation
• Local community empowerment through education
Basic survey of coconut crabs
1 mm
10cmZoeal stages
Glaucothoe
Juvinile crab1 mm
Metamorphosis
Spawning
Adult
Ⅰ
Ⅱ
ⅢⅣ
Ⅴ
Rocky coasts
Ocean
Hard to conduct the population survey!
Temperature: 24-25℃ Salinity 34-35‰. fed with hatched Arte
mia nauplii
Larval culture of coconut crabs
The mean survival rates of zoeae fed with enriched Artemia nauplii are higher than unenriched groups in each zoeal stages.
1 mm
Glaucothoe of coconut crab hiding in a snail shell.
20 Zoea metamorphosed to glaucothoes on the 27th to 34th day
6 carrying the shell on the 37th to 43rd days of its zoeal life.
Larval culture results in 2004
Habitat conservation
• Avoid habitat fragmentation
The road circling Green Island, cuts the migration routes of hermit crabs
Local community empowerment through education
Framework of the coconut crab conservation team's works on Green Island.
Environmental education
Seizure of illegal harvest
Habitat preservation
Artificial culture
collecting the culture and history of coconut crabs and local residents
local educational institutions local residentsgovernment organizations
MPA
Coconut crab conservation team work
Development the eco-tourism subject to coconut crabs
Coconut crab conservation team
Team members including teachers from local schools, government officials, police and local residents.
Objectives1. Environmental education
2. Stopping illegal harvesting
3. Habitat preservation
4. Artificial culture
5. Information collection
6. Ecotourism development
Coconut crab booklet, emphasizing the relationship among coconut crabs and their natural environments on Green Island.
Coconut crab postcard. (a) The front of the postcard emphasizes the life history and habitats,(b) The back of postcard states the law and punishment.
(a) (b)
Propositions of coconut crabs conservation
• Ecological corridors for crabs.
• Enforcement of conservation laws.
• Promoting environmental education and
local communication.
• Continuing research on artificial culture
• Protecting the entire habitat of coconut
crabs, from the mountains to the sea.
Outlook for the MPA and creation of an Eco-island
• MPA
– MPA proposed emphasizing both ecological and
social aspects.
– Local participation on the planning and managing
process of MPA.
• Eco-island
– Conservation actions start from protecting coconut
crabs.
– Maintain biodiversity, and habitat integrity
– Develop Ecotourism.
– Wise and sustainable use natural resources.