Contains 14 chapters covering the horseshoe crab's biology, ecology and evolutionary development and exposes the impacts of over fishing on this species; clarifies the future research agenda for the species worldwide and emphasizes the need for conservation of this fascinating creature's estuaries/ocean habitats.
Introduction: Limulus in the Limelight; S.A. Earle. Part I: Local Species with Global Implications. 1. Horseshoe Crabs Imperiled? The Fate of a Species 350 Million Years In the Making; J.T. Tanacredi. Part II: Biology and Evolution. 2. Two Perspectives: Horseshoe Crabs During 420 Million Years Worldwide, and the Past 150 Years in Delaware Bay; C.N. Shuster Jr. 3. The Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs: What Can We Learn From The Japanese Experience?; M.L. Botton. 4. A Unique Medical Product, LAL from the Horseshoe Crab and Monitoring the Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Population; B.L. Swan. Part III: Behavior and Diversity Studies. 5. Tracks and Trails; C.N. Shuster, Jr. 6. Biomedical Products from the Horseshoe Crab: Lessons for Sound Resource Management and Conservation; T.J. Novitsky. 7. Issues and Approaches in the Regulation of the Horseshoe Crab Fishery; J. Eagle. 8. The Life History of Horseshoe Crabs; R.E. Loveland. 9. Horseshoe Crab Management and Resource Monitoring in New Jersey, 1993-1998; P.J. Himchak, S.L. Hartley. Part IV: Present Day Investigations. 10. Horseshoe Crab Surveys Using Underwater Videography; C. Kurtzke. 11. Horseshoe Crabs: An Ancient Wonder of New York and a Great Topic for Environmental Education; D. Riepe. 12. Living on Limulus; D. Grant. 13. An Estimate of Population Sizes of Two Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus) Sites in Jamaica Bay; D.H. Hanna. Part V: A Final Word. 14. Preserving a Living Fossil; N. Eldredge. Author Biographies. Index.