Studies on the ecology and behaviour of the ghost crab, Ocypode cursor (L.) in northern Cyprus.

Aspects of the ecology and behaviour of Ocypode cursor were studied on the beaches of Northern Cyprus. The crabs were widely distributed around the no rth coast of the island, occurring on 68 of the 77 sandy beaches investigat ed. At the main study beach at Alagadi, crabs occupied a band approximately 12 m wide; starting approximately 3 m horizontally from the edge of the se a (tidal fluctuation was minimal). Most small burrows occurred near to the sea, with the bur rows of larger crabs predominating higher up the beach. B urrow numbers varied during the summer which was mainly attributable to var iations in the numbers of burrows of juveniles. The sex ratio of emergent c rabs also varied during the sum mer, possibly reflecting burrow oriented be haviour of reproductive females. There were strong correlations between bur row diameters and carapace lengths of the occupant crabs. There was a posit ive correlation between the presence of crab burrows and the number of peop le using sections of beach. The crabs were principally nocturnal, benefitti ng from food discarded by tourists. They also scavenged animal carcasses ac id were active predators of turtle eggs and hatchlings. Crab burrows usuall y had a single opening oriented towards the sea and those cast were L- or J -shaped. Burrows did not penetrate to the water table. The water content of the sand at the bottom of burrows was around 14 % by weight. Their burrows in the well-sorted sand provided the crabs with a thermally stable environ ment.