Impact of Global Warming on Some Life Aspects of Temperate-Latitude Coastal Hermit Crabs

This review considers the impact of ocean warming on the distribution, reproduction, and development of temperate hermit crabs, in particular those inhabiting the Sea of Japan. Examples of changes in hermit crab range boundaries and depth distribution in response to rising temperatures are provided. It is also demonstrated how temperature can influence the phenology of these decapods. The impact of changes in reproductive phenology on hermit crab dispersal and recruitment is considered. The potential decrease in the availability of gastropod shells, a vital resource for hermit crabs, under rising temperatures is discussed, as well as possible changes in host–parasite and predator–prey relationships. It is suggested that, due to their biological characteristics, abundance, and availability, hermit crabs may serve as indicator species in long-term monitoring studies of the impact of climate change on individual species and coastal ecosystems in general.