Burrowing crabs as potential bioindicators of sediment carbon storage in mangroves of the Colombian Pacific with different degrees of anthropogenic disturbance.

Little is known about the indicator potential of sediment carbon storage of mangrove crabs (as ecosystem engineers) for blue carbon sequestration assessment. This study aimed to examine the crab trophic guild’s structure and composition in relation to mangroves with different degrees of anthropogenic disturbance index and climate seasons in the Colombian Pacific mangrove forests. Crab trophic guilds were also linked to soil organic carbon content (SOC) and other soil environmental variables in each ecosystem. Ocypodids and deposit feeders were the most representative crabs in terms of species numbers. Mangrove forests with the highest anthropogenic intervention (Pingüita, San Pedro y Rompido) have a high abundance of the deposit feeders, Uca spp., Minuca spp., and Omnivores species, as well as the lowest SOC values. Meanwhile, forests with low and moderate intervention (El Morro and Bocagrande) have a high abundance of deposit feeders, Leptuca spp., and the highest SOC. Crab burrows's abundance of Leptuca spp. could be good bioindicators of higher sediment carbon storage and mangrove ecosystem quality, whereas Uca spp., Minuca spp., and Omnivores species could be used as potential indicators for disturbed systems and lower sediment carbon storage.