Shell Associated Parasites of the Long-Clawed Hermit Crab (Pagurus longicarpus) Along the U.S.

Abstract

Marine ecology and parasitology are important fields for understanding how organisms interact within coastal ecosystems. Parasites can influence the health, behavior, and survival of their hosts, making them an important part of marine communities. However, shell-associated parasites of the long-clawed hermit crab (Pagurus longicarpus), a common intertidal species along the U.S. Atlantic coast, have received little attention. This lack of research limits our understanding of parasite distribution and host-parasite interactions, particularly involving shell-associated egg predators, including the polychaete worm Dipolydora commensalis and the scaleworm Lepidonotus sublevis. To address this gap, sexually mature P. longicarpus were collected from three Atlantic coastal locations: Ocean View Beach, Virginia; Slaughter Beach, Delaware; and Jamaica Bay, New York. Field sampling was conducted over June and July with approximately 200-300 individuals collected per site. The crabs were carefully removed from their shells, and each shell was examined for shellassociated parasites. Following examination, the crabs were placed into labeled centrifuge vials and stored in a freezer for future analysis. Parasite identification is currently underway using morphological characteristics. Once data collection is complete, parasite occurrence and distribution will be compared among the three sampling sites to identify geographic patterns in parasite prevalence. This study will provide baseline data on shell-associated parasites of P. longicarpus and contribute to a broader understanding of marine host-parasite interactions and parasite distribution in Atlantic costal ecosystems.