Resumen

Influence of vegetation cover on the morphometry and abundance of Ucides occidentalis on two islands in the Jambelí archipelago. RCTU [online]. 2025, vol.12, n.2, pp.108-118. ISSN 1390-7697.  https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.26423/x40c0q30.

The red crab Ucides occidentalis is a key species that serves as a bioindicator of the health of the mangrove ecosystem. This study evaluates the relationship between the morphometric characteristics, diversity, and health of this ecosystem through Pearson's correlation analysis on two islands in the Jambelí archipelago. The work was carried out in conjunction with crab collectors from the 15 de enero Association, who provided data on capture sites. Population density data were analysed, finding a significant difference between sites; Chupadores is the most abundant with a density of 10 ind/10m2. The correlation between cephalothorax width and length is positive but weak (r= 0.32, p < 0.001), indicating that the variables are not directly related but may influence each other minimally. This relationship may be subject to factors such as climatic conditions, while the relationship between the cephalothorax size of U. Occidentalis and NDVI showed a direct relationship because it demonstrates that in places such as San Gregorio, which has low vegetation cover and a predominance of the shrimp sector, there is less abundance and cephalothorax size in U. Occidentallis.

Palabras clave : Population density; size; cephalothorax; NDVI; correlation.