Population ecology of the intertidal xanthid crab Leptodius exaratus (H. Milne Edwards, 1834) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Xanthidae) on rocky shores in Kuwait, Arabian (Persian) Gulf

Al-Wazzan, Z., Gimenez, L., Behbehani, M. and Le Vay, L. (2024)

Leptodius exaratus (H. Milne Edwards, 1834) is an exploited species that has been used as bait for recreational fishing in Kuwait. The biological and ecological aspects of the species required to manage this practice are limited. We investigated the life history and population ecology of L. exaratus in the northwestern Arabian (Persian) Gulf. The spawning season of the crab in Kuwait starts in the late spring and continues through the summer and ends in September. Fecundity is highly correlated to female body size and ranges 2,533–11,991 eggs clutch–1, with a mean number of 7,055 eggs clutch–1. Juveniles are generally recruited between July and September, with lower minor recruitment levels occurring in October and November. Growth is highly seasonal, being slow during the cold season (October-February) and high during the warmer season (March and September), with a higher growth rate in males than in females. The seasonality of growth and reproduction of L. exaratus in the region is strongly related to ambient air and water temperatures. Sexual dimorphism is highly significant between males and females with males, reaching reproductive maturity at 17.43 ± 0.53 mm carapace width (CW) and females at 9.58 ± 1.21 mm CW. The overall sex ratio for the species is 0.8:1 (males:females). Furthermore, the life span of 3–4 yr and an overall mortality slightly higher in males than in females. The results of our study could be used to determine fishery management strategies such as minimum catch sizes and closures periods. The results on life history and dynamics of the complex life cycle of L. exaratus contribute to conservation and sustainable exploitation of the species in Kuwait.

To be, or not to be, a non-native species in non-English languages: gauging terminological consensus amongst invasion biologists

Vilizzi, L., Piria, M., Pietraszewski, D., Yoğurtçuoğlu, B., Herczeg, Almeida, D., Al-Wazzan, Z., Atique, U., …and Giannetto, D. (2025)

In invasion biology, terminological frameworks contribute to the improvement of effective communication among scientists, stakeholders, and policy-makers. This is important not only for informing policy decisions but also for engaging the broader public in understanding the risks associated with biological invasions. Meanwhile, the role of non-English languages in advancing knowledge in invasion biology has gained momentum in recent years. Building on the seminal contributions in this scientific discipline by Professor Gordon H. Copp, this paper examines the provision of three key terms defining species invasiveness in 28 non-English languages. We first define the three non-redundant terms “non-native species”, “established species”, and “invasive species”. Through a comparative analysis of the equivalent of these terms in the 28 non-English languages, as contributed by our panel of invasion biologists and native speakers, with those in a reference review paper, and following the diffusion-of-English versus ecology-of-language paradigms, we identify discrepancies and nuances reflecting the dynamic nature of terminology in invasion biology. While some languages showed consensus in terminology, others differed due to either the avoidance of a culturally or politically laden term for “non-native” or the achievement of greater precision in meaning. Our findings highlight the requirement for clear and precise terminology in invasion biology and suggest the adoption of multidisciplinary approaches to reach consensus and facilitate communication amongst scientists, policy-makers, and the general public in a globally interconnected and rapidly changing world. This will enhance international collaboration and accelerate knowledge exchange, leading to more effective management of biological invasions.

The impact of bait gleaning on the xanthid crab Leptodius exaratus population and intertidal habitat.

Al-Wazzan, Z., Gimenez, L., Behbehani, M. and Le Vay, L. (2025)

The Green Sustainable Future in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (GiKS) conference, King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia., 10.13140/RG.2.2.34444.22409

Intertidal zones are host to a wide range of marine organisms that are economically valuable for the coastal communities. In Kuwait, L.exaratus has been used as a bait for recreational fishing. This study was carried out to understand the impact of crab bait collection practice on the intertidal habitat using intertidal field investigations and two questionnaire surveys. The results indicate that L. exaratus represented 21.4% of the intertidal catch, with an average harvesting rate of 191 crabs/collector/tide. Fishing mortality was relatively low but habitat damage, caused by gleaning was high in sites with low crab abundance, in which 80% of the rocks were turned over and more than half broken. This indicates the need to protect intertidal habitats and to enforce control of gleaning practices. Such studies are very limited regionally and globally, making the results of the present study valuable in understanding the biology of this crab species and its role in the rocky shore community and to inform the development of action plans to protect intertidal habitats and control gleaning practices.