Terrestrial hermit crabs serve an incredibly important ecological role in seed dispersal and as decomposers along coastal shorelines. They have also become quite popular in the commercial pet trade, with one species, Coenobita clypeatus, being particularly favored. Typically, these hermit crabs are easily captured and removed from the wild with little protection in their native ranges. In Hermitage Bay, Tobago, there is little information about the population numbers, composition, shell preference, and substrate preference of C. clypeatus in their native habitat. In this study, we estimated population size, gastropod shell preferences, and substrate preference conditions when clustering. We conducted mark re-capture surveys in March, July, and December 2023 and collected morphological data from captured hermit crabs. Our results indicate that the estimated population was highest in July, with the variation being significant when using the Schnabel mark re-capture estimation formula. The most common overall shell type, Columbella mercatoria (West Indian Dove Shell), was prevalent among the smaller sized, younger hermit crabs; while the larger hermit crabs preferred Cittarium pica (West Indian Top Shell). The most preferred substrate for these terrestrial hermit crabs were areas with a mixture of sand and dirt, with high amounts of vegetation and leaf waste and low amounts of human litter. These results suggest a predominantly young population and that beach cleanups should focus on removing human litter entirely, while leaving leaf waste and other fallen logs and branches and not using the collected decomposing plant matter for bonfires. This can help maintain a healthy hermit crab population that continues to benefit the coastlines in Tobago as well as other ecosystems.

Those in the veterinary field are dedicated to improving the physical and emotional wellbeing of animals, and therefore many veterinary professionals experience mental health issues, more specifically, compassion fatigue. With veterinarians having one of the highest rates of suicide, its imperative to understand what factors in the veterinary profession contribute to the decline of emotional wellbeing in the field. This paper explores the causes, impacts and possible solutions for compassion fatigue on veterinary professionals. In order to closely assess these factors, an extensive literature review and a small online survey was conducted to determine how veterinary professionals viewed their mental health in regards to their work. This literature review covers topics of mental health, and specifically compassion fatigue in veterinary workers and animal shelter workers. While compassion fatigue is the primary focus, factors such as burnout, depression, anxiety and work-life balance are examined in the survey, providing a more holistic perspective and understanding of mental health in the veterinary workplace. Additionally, this paper investigates potential methods to mitigate compassion fatigue and promote resilience among veterinary professionals. Through analyzing current literature alongside the research performed, it was found that compassion fatigue is almost inevitable in the veterinary profession, and is more prevalent in those who are newer to the field. Compassion fatigue is exacerbated by lack of resources from management, while feeling overworked and underpaid. It's suggested that veterinary companies provide therapeutic resources that specialize in compassion fatigue, while also interacting with their employees more, such as monthly check-ins or more team bonding activities.