Invasion
Invasion Description
1st record: Germany/Aller River (1912, Herborg et al. 2003)
Geographic Extent
Scotland/Skurlie Pool, River Clyde (6/23/2014, Yeomans and Clark 206, Lat 55° 50? 10.122?; Long ?4° 11? 18.118?, 1 specimen); England/English Channel and Humber, Thames,Medway, Wharf, and Ouse Rivers; Lots Road Power Station, Chelsea/England/Thames River (1935, Herborg et al. 2005, no further Thames records until 1973); West Thurrock Power Station/England/Thames Estuary (1973; Herborg et al. 2005); Littlehampton, Sussex/England/English Channel (2008, Bentley 2011); Castleford, Yorkshire/England/South Field Reservoir, Humber River watershed (1949, Herborg 2005); Newburn, Yorkshire/England/River Tyne (Herborg et al. 2002; Heborg et al. 2005); Ireland/Waterford estuary, Irish Sea) (2006, Minchin 2007); Le Havre/France/English Channel (1943, Herborg et al. 2003; Pezy et al. 2015); France/English Channel and watershed (Seine and other rivers); Belgium/North Sea and watershed (Meuse and other rivers, numerous locations); Netherlands/North Sea and watershed (Meuse and other rivers); Rotterdam/Netherlands/Nieuw Muus River (1931, Wolff 2003); Termunterzijl/Netherlands/Wadden Sea (1930, Wolf 2003); Germany/North Sea and watershed (Elbe, Aller and other rivers); Germany/Aller River (1912, Herborg et al. 2003); Kiel/Gemany/Baltic Sea (1927, Herborg et al. 2003); Hamburg/Germany/Elbe River (1914, Herborg et al. 2003); Rathenow/Germany/Elbe River (1930, Herborg et al. 2003); Prague/Czech Republic/Elbe River (1932, Herborg et al. 2003); Thy/Denmark/North Sea and watershed (1927, Jensen and Knudsen 2005); Northeast England/River Tyne estuary (North Sea) (Herborg et al. 2003); Wales/River Conwy (2010, Bentley 2011, 53.2999992, -3.8333335)
Vectors
| Level | Vector |
|---|---|
| Probable | Ballast Water |
| Alternate | Fisheries Accidental (not Oyster) |
Regional Impacts
| Economic Impact | Fisheries | |
| Eriocheir sinensis rarely prey on fish in open waters, but they damage fish caught in nets, and can swarm into eel-pots, preventing eels from entering (Panning 1938). Some fisheries for mitten crabs are taking place in Germany and the Netherlands- crabs from these fisheries are being sold in Chinese supermarkets in London (Clark 2011). Clark discusses health and economic issues involved in starting a possible fishery in the Thames River, below London (Clark 2011). In experiments, Mitten Crabs consumed a variety of fish eggs, between 2 and 6 mm in diameter. Predation is considered a threat to trout (Salmo trutta, salmon Salmo salar, pike Esox lucius, and European Flounder Platichthys flesus populations in Europe (Webster et al. 2015). | ||
| Ecological Impact | Habitat Change | |
| Eriocheir sinensis burrows in estuarine river-banks undermine the banks, causing their collapse (Panning 1938). Banks on some portions of the lower Thames have retreated up to 6 m, apparently due to crab burrows (Clark 2011).
In mesocosm experiments, Mitten Crabs can remove plant shoots of Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), mostly by movement, and by aggressive interactions between crab, with only minor levels of direct herbivory. High densities of Mittten Crabs can lead to complete vegetation loss (Schoelynck et al. 2019). | ||
| Economic Impact | Industry | |
| Large numbers of migrating crabs have clogged the cooling systems of power plants in Europe, reducing water flows (Chinese Mitten Crab Working Group 2003). On the Thames River, England, mitten crabs have clogged intake screens for drinking water treatment plants (Clark 2011). | ||
| Ecological Impact | Competition | |
| In the Thames Estuary, England, and in laboratory experiments, juvenile E. sinensis excluded native Carcinus maenas (Green Crabs) of similar size from shelters under boulders (Gilbey et al. 2008). | ||
| Ecological Impact | Predation | |
| In experiments, Mitten Crabs consumed a variety of fish eggs, between 2 and 6 mm in diameter. Predation is considered a threat to trout (Salmo trutta, salmon Salmo salar, pike Esox lucius, and European Flounder Platichthys flesus populations in Europe (Webster et al. 2015). | ||
| Ecological Impact | Habitat Change | |
| None | ||