Abstract

ZAPATA-HINESTROZA, Jorvin A.; VELASQUEZ-ARISTIZABAL, Jorge A.  and  QUICENO-CUARTAS, Paula A.. Variation in density and burrow diameter of Cardisoma guanhumi (Decapoda: Gecarcinidae) associated with a hunting season in Turbo, Colombia. Caldasia [online]. 2023, vol.45, n.2, pp.351-363.  Epub July 10, 2023. ISSN 0366-5232.  https://doi.org/10.15446/caldasia.v45n2.100699.

Cardisoma guanhumi is a species of commercial and local importance in some places, where an increase in catching effort occurs due to cultural customs during the holy week, including Turbo, Colombia. Determining whether the increase in the catching effort significantly affected the density and diameter of the burrow during the Holy Week is crucial for conservation and protection purposes. Four sites in the coastal areas of Turbo, Cameru, Punta de Piedra, Cirilo, and Tie were sampled before (March 20-23) and after (April 20-23) the Holy Week of 2018. The population density was estimated by counting occupied burrows within five 10 m x 2 m transects per site. The local population was surveyed to determine trends in consumption, peak hunting seasons, and capture methods. During the sampling after the Holy Week, an average density of 1.3 ± 0.7 burrows m-2 and a mean diameter of 44.0 ± 16.5 mm (Min: 10.5 mm, Max: 100.3 mm, n: 369) were recorded, corresponding to a decrease of 9% and 16%, respectively, compared to the previous sampling. Although the catching effort during the Holy Week season did not significantly affect the density of the burrows of C. guanhumi, significant changes in the proportions of adult and non-adult individuals were observed between the two sampling periods indicating a higher anthropogenic pressure on Cameru and Cirilo. These results contribute to the knowledge of the population of C. guanhumi in Colombia, providing valuable information for the development of local projects aimed at protecting and conserving the species.

Keywords : Cardisoma guanhumi; Colombia; hunting pressure.

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