Numerous studies have demonstrated the crab's ability to regulate bivalve population dynamics and community structure (Arnold, 1984; Holland et al., 1980; Virnstein, 1977).Bivalve prey can coexist alongside their predators with a reduced risk of mortality if (1) they reach a partial or total size refuge at adult sizes (Eggleston, 1990a,b; García-Esquivel and Bricelj, 1993), (2) exist in a habitat inaccessible to predators (Byers, 2002; Grabowski, 2004), (3) develop heavy shell morphology (Blundon and Kennedy, 1982a,b), and/or (4) employ behavioral mechanisms to avoid predation (i.e., ability to swim), as in the case of bay scallops (Peterson et al., 1982).Increased habitat complexity provides spatial refuge from predators, particularly during the early stages of bivalve development (Arnold, 1984; Talman et al., 2004), and can decrease predator foraging efficiency and trophic transfer (Grabowski and Powers, 2004). Prey size and species preferences in the invasive blue crab, Callinectes sapidus: Potential effects in marine and freshwater ecosystems View/ Open This document contains embargoed files until … Access supplemental materials and multimedia. analyses of specific topics. six times a year. Callinectes sapidus is an active swimmer and This greater consumption of M. galloprovincialis could be explained by its greater profitability and shorter handling and breaking time. The BES's many activities include the publication of a range of scientific literature, including five internationally renowned journals, the organisation and sponsorship of a wide variety of meetings, the funding of numerous grant schemes, education work and policy work. 2017a). In order to determine whether such selectivity is hard-wired (i.e. Eleven of the 20 crabs fed (55%), and 16 out of 18 hypoxia-stressed clams were eaten first compared to two out of 18 clams kept under normoxic conditions (p = 0.001). Prey-size selectivity of predators can play an important role in determining the predators' impact on their prey. The consumer–prey relationship was not significantly affected by temperature although the number of X. securis ingested by C. maenas tended to decrease with increasing temperature, whereas the number of M. galloprovincialis consumed increased at the highest temperature. Hungrier crabs tended to be less selective than the less hungry ones, although not significantly so. 5), however when in its soft-bodied moulting state, it is deemed vulnerable to fend off predators. and sand treatments, at 0.41 (SE = 0.06) and 0.42 (SE = 0.07), respectively. C. sapidus may be able to control populations of the invasive green crab, Carcinus maenas; numbers of the two species are negati… Warmer temperatures accelerate growth and reproduction of ectotherms, whereas these processes are slowed or halted in colder temperatures. In general, B. pharaonis genetic and morphological features appeared to contribute much to the species success in versatile habitats. We tested the hypotheses that (1) C. maenas exerts a greater predation pressure on the native mussel and (2) C. maenas increases its ingestion of the most profitable species of mussel at higher temperatures. Copyright © 1982 Published by Elsevier B.V. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-0981(82)90175-7. In the conditioning trial, crabs consumed more sham clams of both sizes than live clams, although sham clams did not yield any energy return. Finally, OSMOSE-WFS was used to explore the trophic structure of the West Florida Shelf in the 2000s and estimate size-specific natural mortality rates for a socio-economically important species, gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis). This study investigated interactions between C. maenas and cultured juveniles of M. arenaria both in the field and laboratory. Equipped with powerful claws and the ability to swim, blue crabs are skilled predators and scavengers. and predator size (> 140 mm, ≤ 140 mm carapace width; CW) in a balanced two-by-three factorial design. Existing threats posed by declining fish stocks have been exacerbated by the introduction of the invasive alien red lionfish Pterois volitans in 2008. 2. In laboratory mesocosm experiments, we assessed the survival of bay scallops (Argopecten irradians concentricus) of various sizes (10–19 mm, 20–29 mm, 30–39 mm, and 40–50 mm shell height; SH) as a function of female blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, predation as it varied with habitat (oyster shell, sand, Gracilaria spp.) Predation in estuarine systems is an important source of mortality for benthic organisms. 458 Accesses. The movement and agonistic activity of individual blue crabs Callinectes sapidus were monitored in large field enclosures, in which the density of crabs and the distribution of patches of bivalve prey Macoma balthica were varied. Proportional survival was significantly higher in Gracilaria spp. Physical evidence, other than crushing, may be used to differentiate between clam death due to predation vs. suffocation, disease, or other sources of mortality. With a personal account, you can read up to 100 articles each month for free. In marine systems, a pattern of preference for small-sized molluscan prey is widespread among crustacean predators, even though predators are often able to consume prey over a wider size range. To test for homogeneity of the feeding response, we used a 1-tail binomial test with 0.5 expected probabilities. Each year, the country’s predominantly small-scale fisheries generate an estimated US$22 million in revenue – 1.8%of GDP – and employ 3000 people. The type-species is Callinectes sapidus Rathbun 1896, by des-ignation of the International Commission on Zoological Nomen-clature (1964:336). 6. empty valves glued together and deployed in living position) clams of the two sizes. Further details are available at www.journalofanimalecology.org. Agonism-related injury in blue crabs is common and may be quite costly. Seasonal variations in reproductive activity of the blue crab, An investigation into environment dependent nanomechanical properties of shallow water shrimp (, Working up an appetite for lionfish: A market-based approach to manage the invasion of, Alien species: to remove or not to remove? In laboratory tests the blue crab Callinectes sapidus showed preference for smaller individuals of the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria. Competitors . Competitors of blue crabs are generally other crustaceans. The purpose of this investigation was to examine aggressive and predator avoidance behaviors in juvenile blue crabs of two populations. The Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus is to date widely distributed in the Mediterranean Sea, where it is recognized as an Invasive Alien Species. This item is part of JSTOR collection Overall, scallop survival was low; however, transplanting scallops in structured substrates with protection against predation, such as oyster shell and Gracilaria spp., will likely increase the success of restoration efforts. In laboratory trials using similar sized juvenile clams, green crabs consumed clams protected by predator deterrent netting, and in one case did so without leaving visible signs of chipping, crushing, or disarticulating the valves. 1314HPEL of the Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies, University of Maryland. To this end, we studied the foraging behavior of an important estuarine predator, the blue crab Callinectes sapidus… research papers on all aspects of animal ecology; specifically those that make 7. OSMOSE-WFS outputs were in full agreement with observations as to the body size and ecological niche of prey of the different HTL groups, and to a lesser extent in agreement with the observed species composition of the diet of HTL groups. The oldest fossil crustaceans are in the Cambrian. JSTOR provides a digital archive of the print version of The Journal Contribution No. Ovarian stages 2 and 3 in the sampled females are characterized by significant high levels of VtG in hemolymph and VtG expression in both the hepatopancreas and ovary. The major fish predators on blue crabs include the Black Drum (Pogonias cromis), Red Drum (Scianops ocellata), the American Eel (Anguilla rostrata), and the American Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus). We applied the individual-based, multi-species OSMOSE modeling approach to the West Florida Shelf, with the intent to inform ecosystem-based management (EBM) in this region. These results indicate that the blue crabs' preference for small-sized clams does not result from a fixed decision rule and suggest that crabs might modify their preferences through experience. Specifically, this study supported the idea that IAS removal may be considered as a possible solution only after establishing a tipping point relying on economic, cultural and pragmatic evaluations. substantial contributions to our understanding of animal ecology as well as The Journal publishes standard papers, essay reviews, Deployed in living position ) clams of the invasive alien Red lionfish Pterois volitans 2008...... display both predator and prey qualities M. galloprovincialis could be explained by its greater profitability and shorter and! 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