Towards wetland restoration for the "Wetland Three Musketeers”, a horseshoe crab, a fiddler crab, and a coconut crab Hwey-Lian Hsieh, Po-Fen Lin, Fang-Lin Wang, Chang-Po Chen Research Center for Biodiversity, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan 115, Republic of China (Fang-Lin Wang, Po-Fen Lin) (Hwey-Lian Hsieh and Chang-Po Chen) Uca formosensis: Habitat requirements and public education programs Three arthropod species, the horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus, the fiddler crab Uca formosensis, and the coconut crab Birgus latro, nicknamed here as the "Wetland Three Musketeers”, and which once thrived in the coastal wetlands of Taiwan, now survive in only a few small restricted areas. Their population declines were largely due to loss of suitable habitats caused by anthropogenic impacts and/or harvesting pressures from humans. We have chosen these three species as flagship species and have set up a three-step strategy advanced from understanding of life histories of these individual species to their habitat maintenance, and the issue of wise use of wetlands. Investigating sedimentary microhabitats in U. formosensis Silt/Clay content: 10~43% Total organic carbon and nitrogen content: 0.16~0.4% and 0.01~0.05% Water content:15~31% pH: 7.9~8.6(neutral to very weal alkaline) Depth of the oxidation layer: often > 16~40cm Benthic macroinvertebrates: 58.8~1189.0 individuals/m2 (polychetes, insects, and crabs) b. c. a. Fig. 2 Localities in Taiwan where viable populations of each flagship species are found. Fig. 1 The wetland Three Musketeer species: the horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus, the fiddler crab Uca formosensis, and the coconut crab Birgus latro. Fig. 5 Some records of educational programs to conserve the fiddler crab Uca formosensis. a, b, Elementary school teachers and students designing and making traps to collect crabs; c, deployment of traps in the field; d, field observations of fiddler crab habitats; e, transplantation practice of fiddler crabs because their original shelters will be reclaimed soon for constructing a municipal swage treatment plant; f, a book written for public education. d. e. f. Coconut crab: Larval development and metamorphosis and public education programs a. b. c. d. Juvenile crab without shell 2.5cm a. b. Table 1 Criteria used to select the Three Musketeer species as flagship species for coastal wetland conservation in Taiwan. Significance Species Biodiversity Habitats Socio-economy Culture and History Education Horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus living fossil of 200 Million years indication of healthy mud-sand intertidal flat ● serum serves as endotoxin testing drug ● visional application of compound eyes ● folk medicine ● utensil to dip water ● some places named after horseshoe crabs ● shells served as evil- repellent for home protection ● habitat conservation ● ecotourism Fiddler crab Uca formosensis endemic species of Taiwan indication of healthy high tidal zone on mud-sand intertidal flat not known Coconut crab Birgus latro ● threatened species in the IUCN Red Book ● hermit crab which does not carry a shell except at very early juvenile stage indication of healthy Reef island food source for island people ● worship sacrifice ● Chinese geomancy ● pet animal Fig. 8 Some records of educational programs to promote conservation of the coconut crab Birgus latro. a, b, Public education for elementary school students and coastal guards; c, organization of a task force to conduct conservation affairs; d, book and postcard published to raise public awareness. Fig. 6 Morphology and development duration from hatching to the glaucothoe stage in the coconut crab Birgus latro under laboratory condition and a scheme depicting natural habitats the coconut crab use through its life history. Fig. 7 Newly metamorphosed and shell-carrying coconut crab juvenile in the laboratory. a: Close-up view; b: crab crawling on a piece of coral fragment. General strategies planning for wetlands conservation include the following: To conserve coastal wetlands as protected areas which still maintain sound function, to improve those that have been disturbed, and to restore those that have been destroyed. By connecting these three types of habitats to form a “Coastal Wetlands Conservation Greenway” (Hsieh et al. 2004), coastal wetlands conservation can be implemented; (b) To accelerate studies of the life history and of habitat requirements of each stage of the Three Musketeer species; (c) To develop and establish sea-farming techniques for ensuring population; (d) To educate the public to be aware of wise uses of coastal wetlands by developing a multiple use scheme for natural resources. Wetlands serving as ecotourism and environmental education sites are such wise uses of wetlands services; (e) To empower local communities and non-profit organizations to actively participate in local wetlands conservation; (f) To establish a cooperative coalition involving participation from all relevant sectors including local communities, non-profit organizations, scientists, governmental agencies, and enterprises; and (g) To promote innovations in ecological engineering for restoring habitats. Ecological engineering is a practice that incorporates both design and construction with nature; (h) To establish international cooperation for designating marine protected areas and promoting wetland conservation. Horseshoe crab: Establishment of a protected area and public education programs Fig. 3 Protected area in Kinmen, Taiwan designated for the horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus. Further work Horseshoe crab: A new nursing ground and juveniles were found in 2005 in Haoumeiliao wetland, Chiayi County. Local community, tour businessmen, teachers of elementary schools, and local government formed a team to protect and restore the horseshoe crab and its habitats. Fiddler crab: To rehabilitate the Uca formosensis habitats and to monitor and evaluate the effects of mangrove removal on intertidal ecosystems. To enhance local people’s participation in mangrove removal and protection of intertidal flat. To continue in public education. Coconut crab: To promote environmental education and local communication through the coconut crab conservation team work. Ecological corridors for crabs will be built through community-based works including the study of the distribution of coconut crab population and spawning migration. The research on larval mass cultivation will be continued in 2006. The study of genetic connectivity of Birgus latro in the Indo-Pacific region will help in strategic planning for coconut crab conservation. a. b. c. d. e. Reference Fig. 4 Some records of educational programs for conserving the horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus. a~c, Activities for learning about horseshoe crabs; d, brochures and a book published to raise public awareness; e, visiting horseshoe crab habitats as a part of ecotourism tours. Hsieh HL, Chen CP, Lin YY. 2004. Strategic planning for a wetlands conservation greenway along the west coast of Taiwan. Ocean and Coastal Management 47: 257-272.