Modeling habitat distribution and niche overlap of Asian horseshoe crabs: Implications for conservation.

Asian horseshoe crabs are ancient organisms essential for the balance of marine ecosystems. However, detailed information on their ecology and the environmental factors influencing their distribution remains limited. In this study, we analyzed habitat characteristics, potential distribution, and nic...

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Main Authors: Jian Liao, Chun-Hui Xiong, Gao-Cong Li, Jia-Yu Li, Yuan-Feng Yang, Shui-Yuan Zhang, Yi-Yang Li, Kai-Lin Zeng, Mei-Ling Hu, Yu-Song Guo, Zhong-Duo Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324471
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author Jian Liao
Chun-Hui Xiong
Gao-Cong Li
Jia-Yu Li
Yuan-Feng Yang
Shui-Yuan Zhang
Yi-Yang Li
Kai-Lin Zeng
Mei-Ling Hu
Yu-Song Guo
Zhong-Duo Wang
author_facet Jian Liao
Chun-Hui Xiong
Gao-Cong Li
Jia-Yu Li
Yuan-Feng Yang
Shui-Yuan Zhang
Yi-Yang Li
Kai-Lin Zeng
Mei-Ling Hu
Yu-Song Guo
Zhong-Duo Wang
author_sort Jian Liao
collection DOAJ
description Asian horseshoe crabs are ancient organisms essential for the balance of marine ecosystems. However, detailed information on their ecology and the environmental factors influencing their distribution remains limited. In this study, we analyzed habitat characteristics, potential distribution, and niche overlap for three species: Tachypleus tridentatus, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, and Tachypleus gigas. Predictive modeling using MaxEnt and niche analysis revealed that water depth and distance to land are key factors determining species distribution, with species-specific environmental influences: T. tridentatus is affected by maximum summer chlorophyll-a, C. rotundicauda by minimum chlorophyll-a, and T. gigas by wind speed. In terms of niche overlap, the highest degree of overlap was observed between C. rotundicauda and T. gigas, while the overlap between T. tridentatus and T. gigas was the lowest. The results highlight priority conservation areas, providing insights for management and protection strategies amid current environmental threats.
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publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-0acaa9a0b0a546b2a1e5a175cd3955b42025-08-20T02:23:15ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01205e032447110.1371/journal.pone.0324471Modeling habitat distribution and niche overlap of Asian horseshoe crabs: Implications for conservation.Jian LiaoChun-Hui XiongGao-Cong LiJia-Yu LiYuan-Feng YangShui-Yuan ZhangYi-Yang LiKai-Lin ZengMei-Ling HuYu-Song GuoZhong-Duo WangAsian horseshoe crabs are ancient organisms essential for the balance of marine ecosystems. However, detailed information on their ecology and the environmental factors influencing their distribution remains limited. In this study, we analyzed habitat characteristics, potential distribution, and niche overlap for three species: Tachypleus tridentatus, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, and Tachypleus gigas. Predictive modeling using MaxEnt and niche analysis revealed that water depth and distance to land are key factors determining species distribution, with species-specific environmental influences: T. tridentatus is affected by maximum summer chlorophyll-a, C. rotundicauda by minimum chlorophyll-a, and T. gigas by wind speed. In terms of niche overlap, the highest degree of overlap was observed between C. rotundicauda and T. gigas, while the overlap between T. tridentatus and T. gigas was the lowest. The results highlight priority conservation areas, providing insights for management and protection strategies amid current environmental threats.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324471
spellingShingle Jian Liao
Chun-Hui Xiong
Gao-Cong Li
Jia-Yu Li
Yuan-Feng Yang
Shui-Yuan Zhang
Yi-Yang Li
Kai-Lin Zeng
Mei-Ling Hu
Yu-Song Guo
Zhong-Duo Wang
Modeling habitat distribution and niche overlap of Asian horseshoe crabs: Implications for conservation.
PLoS ONE
title Modeling habitat distribution and niche overlap of Asian horseshoe crabs: Implications for conservation.
title_full Modeling habitat distribution and niche overlap of Asian horseshoe crabs: Implications for conservation.
title_fullStr Modeling habitat distribution and niche overlap of Asian horseshoe crabs: Implications for conservation.
title_full_unstemmed Modeling habitat distribution and niche overlap of Asian horseshoe crabs: Implications for conservation.
title_short Modeling habitat distribution and niche overlap of Asian horseshoe crabs: Implications for conservation.
title_sort modeling habitat distribution and niche overlap of asian horseshoe crabs implications for conservation
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324471
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