SearchingfortheSea

Aredtideflowsfromtheforesttothesea.ItisfallonChristmasIslandinthePacificOcean.That’swhenmillionsofredcrabsmigrate.Theyskittertotheseatoreleasetheireggs.Howdotheyknowwhattodo?

Theirtimingislinkedtorain.Theisland’swetseasonbeginsinOctober.Thecrabsabandontheirrain forestburrows.Malestraveltotheoceaningreatnumbers.Theydigdeepburrowsandwaitforthefemalestoarrive.Theymateinorneartheburrows.Thenthemalesreturntothe forest.

Thecrabmigrationisalsolinkedtothephasesofthemoon.Duringthelastquarterofthemoon,attheturnofthehightide,thefemalesreleasetheireggsintotheocean.Thisensuresthatmostoftheeggsreachdeepwater.Thenthefemalesreturntotheirhomes.Theyounggrowupintheseaandcometolandas adults.