Bartolini, FabrizioPenha-Lopes, Gil P.Samwel Mchele LimbuPaula, JoséCannicci, Stefano2016-06-262016-06-262009Bartolini, F., Penha-Lopes, G., Limbu, S., Paula, J. and Cannicci, S., 2009. Behavioural responses of the mangrove fiddler crabs (Ucaannulipes and U. inversa) to urban sewage loadings: Results of a mesocosm approach. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 58(12), pp.1860-1867.http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/2691The study aimed at investigating the effects of sewage loadings on the behaviour of two fiddler crabs species maintained in a system of experimental mesocosms, built in a mangrove area in Tanzania and inundated with different seawater/sewage mixtures. Our results show that sewage loads led to a modification of the overall activity budget of the crab community as a result of increased hypertrophic conditions (high COD, increased chlorophyll-a concentrations). During their activity period, crabs inside contaminated mesocosms seemed to satisfy their feeding demand faster than those of the control cells, spending a significant longer time in other activities like courtship and territorial defence. Apart from being a good biological indication of ecosystem eutrophication, such a reduced foraging activity by fiddler crabs also depresses their sediment bioturbation activity, important factor for the health of mangrove systems, suggesting practical implications regarding the efficiency of mangrove-based wetlands for treatment of domestic sewage.enSewageEast AfricaMangroveFiddler crabBehaviourEcosystem engineerJournal Article, Peer Reviewed10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.07.019