Species Regional Summary
Carcinus maenas
Long Island Sound ( M040 )

Invasion History Vectors Impacts References

Invasion

Invasion Description

1st Record: "Long Island" (Rafinesque 1817)

Geographic Extent

"Long Island" (1817, Rafinesque 1817); Brewer Yacht Yard, Mystic/CT/Fishers Island Sound (MIT Sea Grant 2003); Milford Yacht Club, Milford/CT/Long Island Sound (2003, MIT Sea Grant 2003); Brewer Yacht Haven Marine Center, Stamford/CT/Long Island Sound (2003, MIT Sea Grant 2003)

Vectors

Level Vector
Alternate Hull Fouling
Alternate Dry Ballast

Regional Impacts

Ecological ImpactPredation
In field experiments at Avery Point, Long Island Sound, C. maenas fed on young mussels at a higher rate than the recently introduced crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus (Asian Shore Crab), but the much higher densities of H. sanguineus now make it the more important predator in the rocky intertidal (Lohrer and Whitlach 2002). Predation by adult Carcinus on juvenile Argopecten irradians (Bay Scallop) in Long Island Sound was studied experimentally in laboratory experiments. Carcinus were one of several predators responsible for mortality of young scallops in field tethering experiments, but juvenile mud crabs were considered to be more important predators, because of their ability to climb eelgrass blades where young Argopecten were attached (Pohle et al. 1991). Taylor (2005) found that Green Crabs in the Niantic River, Long Island Sound had a small predatory impact (1-8% of daily mortality) on newly settled juveniles of the Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus). This predation rate is probably less than that of other predators.
 
Economic ImpactFisheries
Predation by adult Carcinus on juvenile Argopecten irradians (Bay Scallop) in Long Island Sound was studied experimentally in laboratory experiments. Carcinus were one of several predators responsible for mortality of young scallops in field tethering experiments, but juvenile mud crabs were considered to be more important predators, because of their ability to climb eelgrass blades where young Argopecten were attached (Pohle et al. 1991).
 

References

Full Reference List for Carcinus maenas

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