Loading...
Survey of European Green Crabs and Asian Shore Crabs in Salem Sound
Sahloul, Sami Sahloul, Sami Almadani, Nadir Almadani, Nadir
Sahloul, Sami
Sahloul, Sami
Almadani, Nadir
Almadani, Nadir
Citations
Altmetric:
Abstract
The European green crab (Carcinus maenas) has been the dominant crab species in New England rocky intertidal zones since the late 1800’s, but since around 2000 they have begun to be outcompeted by a new invasive species, the Asian shore crab (Hemigrapsus sanguineus). Rocky intertidal zones at Pavilion Beach in Ipswich, MA and Chandler Hovey Park in Marblehead, MA were surveyed for both species monthly at low tide from June 2019 through April 2021. Asian shore crabs made up 89% of all crabs surveyed compared to European green crabs (11%). Also, at both sites, the average carapace width of European green crabs was found to be larger than that of the Asian shore crabs collected. From this survey, it appears that Asian shore crabs are outcompeting European green crabs at these locations.
Title
Survey of European Green Crabs and Asian Shore Crabs in Salem Sound
Date
2021-05-01
Subject
Asian Shore Crab
Carcinus maenas
Chandler Hovey Park
European Green Crab
Hemigrapsus sanguineus
Pavilion Beach
Carcinus maenas
Chandler Hovey Park
European Green Crab
Hemigrapsus sanguineus
Pavilion Beach
Material type
Collections
Abstract
The European green crab (Carcinus maenas) has been the dominant crab species in New England rocky intertidal zones since the late 1800’s, but since around 2000 they have begun to be outcompeted by a new invasive species, the Asian shore crab (Hemigrapsus sanguineus). Rocky intertidal zones at Pavilion Beach in Ipswich, MA and Chandler Hovey Park in Marblehead, MA were surveyed for both species monthly at low tide from June 2019 through April 2021. Asian shore crabs made up 89% of all crabs surveyed compared to European green crabs (11%). Also, at both sites, the average carapace width of European green crabs was found to be larger than that of the Asian shore crabs collected. From this survey, it appears that Asian shore crabs are outcompeting European green crabs at these locations.