THE FEEDING-BEHAVIOR OF THE RED MANGROVE CRAB SESARMA-MEINERTI-DE MAN, 1887 (CRUSTACEA, DECAPODA, GRAPSIDAE) AND ITS EFFECT ON THE DEGRADATION OF MANGROVE LEAF-LITTER

Feeding of Sesarma meinerti de Man was studied in the laboratory and a t the Beachwood Mangrove Reserve. n the field, mangrove leaf litter fo rmed 74,6% of the diet. Crabs showed a preference for leaves in the or der: yellow Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lam. > yellow Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. > green B. gymnorrhiza > green A. marina. In the labo ratory, a positive correlation was observed between relative consumpti on and degree of decomposition. Crabs fed with both tannin and tannin- free leaves showed a preference for the latter. Removal of B. gymnorrh iza leaves by S. meinerti was high throughout the year, whereas dry ma ss toss attributable to consumption varied according to season. It is suggested that S. meinerti plays an important role in the degradation of mangrove leaf litter.