Mangrove Crab Sampling Data in Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve, Haikou, Hainan Province, China

This dataset contains the results of a study on mangrove crabs conducted in four seasons (Summer, SU; Autumn, AU; Winter, WI; Spring, SP) of 2020 and 2021. The samples were collected in the Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve, Haikou, Hainan Province, China, at five sites: Sanjiang (SJ), Tashi (TS), Shanweitou (SWT), Luodou (LD), and Puqian (PQ). The primary focus is on crab species belonging to the superfamilies Ocypodoidea (ghost crabs), Grapsoidea (square crabs), and Portunoidea (swimming crabs).

Sampling was conducted using net trapping, with three replicate plots set up for each habitat type at each site. Each plot was sampled continuously for three days. Vegetation information was recorded using dominant species as representatives, and water environmental information was collected using a WTW instrument. The parameters measured include total dissolved solids (TDS) (mg/L), dissolved oxygen (DO) (mg/L), salinity (SAL) (‰), water temperature (T) (℃), and pH. Finally, the longitude and latitude in the WGS84 coordinate system and Cartesian coordinates for each plot were recorded.

The dataset fields are as follows:

date: Date of sampling

year: Year of sampling

month: Month of sampling

day: Day of sampling

site: Sampling location, including TS, SJ, SWT, LD, PQ

habitat: Habitat type, including tidal channels, tidal flats, and several vegetation types represented by mangrove trees such as Avicennia marina, Rhizophora stylosa, Bruguiera sexangular, Sonneratia apetala, and Ceriops tagal.

plotname: Plot name

species: Species name, as per the World Register of Marine Species (https://www.marinespecies.org)

superfamily: Superfamily, as per the World Register of Marine Species (https://www.marinespecies.org)

season: Season, including Summer (SU), Autumn (AU), Winter (WI), and Spring (SP)

cname: Plot division by season, site, and habitat

fullname: Plot division by season, site, habitat, and plot sequence number

pname: Plot division by site, habitat, and plot sequence number

TDS: Water total dissolved solids (mg/L)

pH: Water pH

DO: Water dissolved oxygen (mg/L)

T: Water temperature (℃)

SAL: Water salinity (‰)

longitude: Longitude in WGS84 coordinate system

latitude: Latitude in WGS84 coordinate system

x: Cartesian coordinate x

y: Cartesian coordinate y

We thank Chengpu Jiang, Liangjun Wei and other colleagues for their assistance during the field samplings. Thanks also for the experimental conditions and sampling support provided by Hainan Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve Authority.