Atlantic Horseshoe Crabs - ecosystem
May 28th 2008 22:23
Atlantic horseshoe crabs move across the sand on Pickering beach, a national horseshoe crab sanctuary near Little Creek, Delaware, May 20, 2008. The Atlantic horseshoe crab, part of the Atlantic coast ecosystem and an ancient species more than 350 million years old, return from deeper water each May and June to lay their eggs on these beaches at the new and full moon tides. During spawning the crabs form clusters along the water's edge with as many as 12 satellite males grouped around one female. The females burrow into the sand to lay masses of green eggs which are fertilized by the males. The eggs provide essential food for as many as one million migrating shore birds that use horseshoe crab eggs as their primary food source on their northward migration.
REUTERS/Mike Segar
click here for the link to this environmental phenomenon
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