Long-term variation in ghost crab metapopulations: From pre-pandemic degrading scenario to post-pandemic recovery with the establishment of a protected area

Abstract

The ghost crab Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius, 1787) is adversely affected by anthropogenic impacts on western Atlantic sandy beaches, resulting in reduced burrow density and diameter. However, during periods of reduced human activity, as observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, ghost crab metapopulations may rebound. This study aimed to determine whether the recovery of the ghost crab metapopulation observed during the pandemic persisted into the post-pandemic period and following the creation of a locally managed Environmental Protected Area (EPA). Monthly data on burrow abundance and opening diameter from the lockdown (2020–2021) and post-pandemic (2022–2023) periods were analyzed and compared with historical data from pre-pandemic times (2013–2019) across areas with varying levels of urbanization and human disturbances. We hypothesized that burrow abundance and burrow opening diameter in urbanized areas decrease in the post-pandemic period compared to the lockdown even after the establishment of the EPA. A significant increase in burrow density in the most urbanized areas was observed during the lockdown and post-pandemic periods compared to pre-pandemic times, likely attributed to the "anthropause" and the restriction of activities such as vehicle traffic within the EPA. However, the most urbanized areas recorded the smallest burrows even during the lockdown and post-pandemic periods compared to non-urbanized areas, suggesting that recreational activities still affect individual energy budget and growth. Our findings highlight the importance of EPAs and mitigation actions, such as reducing degrading human activities, for ghost crab metapopulations and beach ecological integrity. Thus, balancing recreational activities and biodiversity conservation is feasible in these socio-ecological ecosystems.