Imagine a magnificent creature that can be described as a typical crab, but isn’t. This crab seems to be more sophisticated. Most people wouldn’t think of the horseshoe crab, which dates back to about 400 million years ago, 200 million years before the dinosaurs existed. The horseshoe crab marvelous reign may come to an end because we are interacting with these fascinating creatures. Humans should not interact with these magnificent creatures because interacting with these creatures can cause the decrease in other endangered species which provide jobs for many ornithologists (bird watchers), implementing human structures can lead to the downfall of the horseshoe crabs, and lastly, using horseshoe crabs as eel and conch bait will lead to the
…show more content…
The Red Knots rely on the horseshoe crab eggs for their long journey north to the Canadian Arctic. These birds must feed on the eggs in Delaware or they will be too weak and fragile to make the journey. For instance, in the article, “Red Knots? What do they have to do with Horseshoe Crabs”, it states, “These [horseshoe crab] eggs are the single most important food source for migrating shorebirds...the red knots are prey to peregrine falcons, harriers and short-eared owls.” (par. 2 and 5). This quote shows that if we interact with horseshoe crabs, it can lead to the decline of the endangered Red Knot species who rely on the horseshoe crab egg. Horseshoe crabs are also a keystone species, meaning that they significantly affect other animals in the food chain. According to this quote, horseshoe crabs are prey to Red Knots, and Red Knots are the prey of to harriers, peregrine falcons, short-eared owls, arctic foxes and herring gulls. This shows that if we interact with horseshoe crabs, we will disturb the balance of the food chain. Not only does interacting with horseshoe crabs cause the downfall of other endangered species, but also the decrease of job opportunities. For example, in the article, “Red Knots? What do they have to do with Horseshoe Crabs”, it states, “It is estimated
The Red Knots rely on the horseshoe crab eggs for their long journey north to the Canadian Arctic. These birds must feed on the eggs in Delaware or they will be too weak and fragile to make the journey. For instance, in the article, “Red Knots? What do they have to do with Horseshoe Crabs”, it states, “These [horseshoe crab] eggs are the single most important food source for migrating shorebirds...the red knots are prey to peregrine falcons, harriers and short-eared owls.” (par. 2 and 5). This quote shows that if we interact with horseshoe crabs, it can lead to the decline of the endangered Red Knot species who rely on the horseshoe crab egg. Horseshoe crabs are also a keystone species, meaning that they significantly affect other animals in the food chain. According to this quote, horseshoe crabs are prey to Red Knots, and Red Knots are the prey of to harriers, peregrine falcons, short-eared owls, arctic foxes and herring gulls. This shows that if we interact with horseshoe crabs, we will disturb the balance of the food chain. Not only does interacting with horseshoe crabs cause the downfall of other endangered species, but also the decrease of job opportunities. For example, in the article, “Red Knots? What do they have to do with Horseshoe Crabs”, it states, “It is estimated