https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/senseofplaceriz/new
While exploring the tide pools outside Anderson Labs in Juneau, Alaska, I was captivated by the diverse array of marine life that thrived in the intertidal zone. Among the numerous invertebrates and crustaceans that populated the rocky shores, one creature stood out—the Pagurus armatus, or armed hermit crab. This particular hermit crab caught my attention not only for its striking appearance but also for its unique feeding behavior. Unlike many of the other crabs in the tide pool, the P. armatus is a filter feeder, using its specialized appendages to sift through the water for microscopic food particles.
The discovery of this hermit crab among its fellow crustaceans sparked my interest in the intricate ecosystem of the intertidal zone. The tide pool was teeming with life, with various species of crabs, snails, and other marine organisms going about their daily activities. However, it was the P. armatus that I found most intriguing. Its delicate filter-feeding mechanism and its role in the tide pool's ecosystem fascinated me, highlighting the complexity and interconnectedness of life in Alaska's coastal environments. I was just ecstatic to see the hermit crab move around , I wanted to upload the video but I do not think this app allows for videos , if any of you guys do find out how to get that done please let me know , you have to see the way it carries out locomotion just adorable and menacing at the same time. However, enough about my obsession with the hermit crab, these crabs have a big role to play in the food web not just here in juneau alaska but also in their geographical range which is what makes them slightly ecologically successful than the other species in their family.
- Wicksten, Mary K. "Creature Feature: Deepwater Hermit Crab." Texas A&M University, 22 Sept. 2015.
Mary K. Wicksten's study on the deepwater hermit crab highlights its significant ecological role in the marine ecosystem. She discusses the unique adaptations of this species, such as its specialized appendages and behavior, which allow it to thrive in deepwater habitats (Wicksten). These adaptations enable the deepwater hermit crab to fulfill important ecological functions, such as scavenging and nutrient cycling, contributing to the overall health and balance of the marine environment. Wicksten's research provides valuable insights into the ecological importance of the deepwater hermit crab and its role in maintaining marine biodiversity.
- Williams, Jason D., and John J. McDermott. "Hermit crab biocoenosis: a worldwide review of the diversity and natural history of hermit crab associates."
Jason D. Williams and John J. McDermott's study on hermit crab biocoenosis emphasizes the ecological significance of hermit crabs and their associates in marine ecosystems. They discuss how hermit crabs provide habitats for a variety of other organisms, such as anemones and barnacles, creating complex and biodiverse communities (Williams and McDermott). These biocoenosis play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and food web dynamics, enhancing the overall productivity and resilience of coastal ecosystems. Williams and McDermott's research underscores the importance of hermit crabs in maintaining the ecological balance of marine environments worldwide.
URL If anyone wants to read more in depth :).
https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1504/logs/sept22/sept22.html
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022098104001133
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senseofplacerizDescripción
I could not find the beach name that goes below Anderson Labs , however you can find these cute guys on a low tide .
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Hi Riz,
I loved the layout of your post and how you gave an explanation and overview of the articles that you provided, thank you for doing that! Hermit crabs are such cool organisms--I think that my favorite aspect of them is how they find new shells and molt their old ones. Mary K. Wicksten's study was super interesting to read. I had no idea that hermit crabs played such a vital role in the marine ecosystem. Also, Jason D. Williams and John J. McDermott's was full of new information that I had not heard before. I did not realize that hermit crabs provided other organisms with a habitat.
Great post!
Elizabeth
That is interesting, I wonder why it's called "armed," because other hermit crabs also have appendages used for feeding and moving. It makes sense that they have a significant role as they feed on things smaller than them, which would include dead things as with other crabs. Another creature that also helps with recycling dead things is the Sea Cucumber, the ability for nature to recycle other natural things is endless and amazing at the same time. It is also worth noting that the defense mechanism of a shell is not always going to save you from being eaten by something bigger or a snail which has a drill for teeth.
My classmate from my zoology class corrected me this is just a Alaskan Hermit Crab not a armed one , she is the one who collected this specific one that we saw in the lab , I could never get myself to hold one of these even though they are cute , but from a distance. ( I saw many crustaceans including the hermit crab down by Anderson and she saw them at a different location , crazy to see their abundance to marine life and the Alaskan food web not to mention their ecological and geographic success. @d_glackin
Unfortunately, you're right, Riz, that you can't upload video directly into iNaturalist; however, many users get around this by uploading to YouTube, and then including the link to the video in their note. Give that a try, if you'd like, as it would be fun to see this species move about as you described!
Your sources are not correctly formatted for MLA! For example, it's not clear in the way you've written them what the sources are. It's only later when you supply url's for the sources that we can surmise the sources are online, but correct MLA format requires that information to be in the citation itself. You'll have to revisit https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html to refresh your memory, and I recommend never relying on your memory for MLA format as it has so many small details!
In addition, you give us sentences with lovely information, but no source. For example: "the P. armatus is a filter feeder, using its specialized appendages to sift through the water for microscopic food particles" -- where is the parenthetical citation that lets your readers know where that fact came from?
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