Biologist Works to Restore Horseshoe Crab Populations

When it comes to human medicine, horseshoe crabs are lifesavers.

Their blood cells contain a clotting agent that attaches to harmful bacteria. This “miracle blood” is widely used by pharmaceutical and medical companies to ensure that their products, e.g., intravenous drugs, vaccines and medical devices, are free of contamination.

So when the horseshoe crab population became threatened in North America and Southeast Asia about a decade ago, the demand for ecological research attracts many scientists. Factors such as pollution and coastal development have threatened the prime beach areas beside over fishing for effective baits for eel and sea snails and food.

Hard numbers are not available, since it is only recently that people have conducted surveys of the horseshoe crabs in Asia, but it was clear from the 2007 conference that my Asian colleagues all felt that their populations had declined,. At that conference, habitat loss, water pollution, urbanization and land reclamation were named as factors affecting the horseshoe crab populations in parts of Taiwan, India, China and Mexico.

There is no international treaty or anything like that to protect horseshoe crabs. In a lot of these places, it’s not perceived as an important task to preserve them.

Trying to raise public awareness about the value of horseshoe crabs in Southeast Asia in understanding its ecological role or importance is among the important strategies for conservation..
Naturally the eggs of this horseshoe crabs are food for migratory shore birds. There fore if we believe in conserving and protection of migratory shore birds and its habitat, directly this fossil creature will be protected. That’s why high trophic levels animals usually suggested as a key species in a protected habitat.
Therefore an ecological survey and monitoring is very important!