Crab Species-Specific Excavation and Architecture of Burrows in Restored Mangrove Habitat

Burrowing crabs are considered to be ecosystem engineers, playing a vital role in mangrove ecosystems through bio-geochemical transformation. This process depends on the size and shape of burrows. The present study analyzes architecture burrows constructed by restored habitat. Fourteen crab species were found construct 13 different shapes, with predominance I-, J-, L-shapes. Sesarmids larger than fiddlers, made wider openings mostly Rhizophora zone. Fiddlers complex vertical position, longer deeper contrast sesarmids, which formed simple horizontal digging shorter shallower Avicennia or open zones. sesarmids had smaller without branching zones, whereas fiddlers fiddler crabs, especially Austruca occidentalis A. annulipes, separate passages for exit entry as an adaptation against predators. work identified annulipes most potent bioturbating habitats due their efficiency soil excavation formation large-sized