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Fletcher LS, Blakeslee AMH, Crane LC, Repetto MF, Toscano BJ, Griffen BD. Using external morphology as a proxy for stomach size in Hemigrapsus sanguineus. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11344. [PMID: 38698925 PMCID: PMC11063776 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Stomach morphology can provide insights into an organism's diet. Gut size or length is typically inversely related to diet quality in most taxa, and has been used to assess diet quality in a variety of systems. However, it requires animal sacrifice and time-consuming dissections. Measures of external morphology associated with diet may be a simpler, more cost-effective solution. At the species level, external measures of the progastric region of the carapace in brachyuran crabs can predict stomach size and diet quality, with some suggestion that this approach may also work to examine individual diet preferences and specialization at the individual level; if so, the size of the progastric region could be used to predict trends in diet quality and consumption for individuals, which would streamline diet studies in crabs. Here, we tested whether external progastric region size predicts internal stomach size across latitude and time of year for individuals of the invasive Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus. We found that the width of the progastric region increased at a faster rate with body size than stomach width. In addition, the width of the progastric region followed different trends across sites and over time compared to stomach width. Our results therefore suggest that the progastric region may not be used as a proxy for stomach size variation across individuals.
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Towne ZW, Judge ML, O’Connor NJ. Intertidal habitat complexity influences the density of the non-native crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15161. [PMID: 37041978 PMCID: PMC10083005 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Habitat structural complexity can provide protection from predators, potentially affecting population density of native and non-native prey. The invasive Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, occurs in variable densities in the rocky intertidal zone of eastern North America and northern Europe, often in densities greater than in its native range. The present study examined the influence of habitat complexity on the density of H. sanguineus. Artificial shelters of concrete pavers with stones arranged in increasing complexity were deployed in the intertidal zone along a rocky shore in southeastern Massachusetts, USA, for 21 consecutive weekly intervals in 2020. Crabs consistently reached the highest densities in the most complex shelters despite their lower internal surface area. In addition, crabs exhibited shelter selectivity based on body size, with large crabs occupying artificial shelters in greater numbers than adjacent natural substrate. In a subsequent lab study, crab activity over 1 h was observed in the presence of the same artificial shelters, under simulated tidal conditions. Shelter complexity had little influence on the number of crabs under the pavers although crabs were more active when submerged in water than exposed to air. These results show that crab density increases as habitat complexity increases, and complexity may serve as a predictor of H. sanguineus density but not short-term behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary W. Towne
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, Dartmouth, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Michael L. Judge
- Department of Biology, Manhattan College, Riverdale, New York, United States
| | - Nancy J. O’Connor
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, Dartmouth, Massachusetts, United States
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Fletcher LS, Bolander M, Reese TC, Asay EG, Pinkston E, Griffen BD. Metabolic rates of the Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus in air as a function of body size, location, and injury. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9297. [PMID: 36177136 PMCID: PMC9463042 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid warming in the Gulf of Maine may influence the success or invasiveness of the Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus. To better predict the effects of climate change on this invasive species, it is necessary to measure its energy dynamics under a range of conditions. However, previous research has only focused on the metabolism of this intertidal species in water. We sampled adult crabs from three different sites and measured their metabolic rates in the air. We show that metabolic rate increases with body mass and the number of missing limbs, but decreases with the number of regenerating limbs, possibly reflecting the timing of energy allocation to limb regeneration. Importantly, metabolic rates measured here in the air are ~4× higher than metabolic rates previously measured for this species in water. Our results provide baseline measurements of aerial metabolic rates across body sizes, which may be affected by climate change. With a better understanding of respiration in H. sanguineus, we can make more informed predictions about the combined effects of climate change and invasive species on the northeast coasts of North America.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Emily Pinkston
- Department of BiologyBrigham Young UniversityProvoUtahUSA
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Torres G, Charmantier G, Giménez L. Ontogeny of osmoregulation of the Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus at an invaded site of Europe. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab094. [PMID: 35145698 PMCID: PMC8824517 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We studied the ontogeny of osmoregulation of the Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus at an invaded area in the North Sea. H. sanguineus is native to Japan and China but has successfully invaded the Atlantic coast of North America and Europe. In the invaded areas, H. sanguineus is becoming a keystone species as driver of community structure and the adults compete with the shore crab Carcinus maenas. Strong osmoregulatory abilities may confer the potential to use and invade coastal areas already earlier in the life cycle. We reared larvae and first juveniles at 24°C in seawater from hatching to intermoult of each developmental stage (zoea I-V, megalopa, crab I). We exposed each stage to a range of salinities (0-39 ppt) for 24 h, and then we quantified haemolymph osmolality, using nano-osmometry. In addition, we quantified osmolality in field-collected adults after acclimation to the test salinities for 6 days. Larvae of H. sanguineus were able to hyper-osmoregulate at low salinities (15 and 20 ppt) over the complete larval development, although the capacity was reduced at the zoeal stage V; at higher salinities (25-39 ppt), all larval stages were osmoconformers. The capacity to slightly hypo-regulate at high salinity appeared in the first juvenile. Adults were able to hyper-osmoregulate at low salinities and hypo-regulate at concentrated seawater (39 ppt). H. sanguineus showed a strong capacity to osmoregulate as compared to its native competitor C. maenas, which only hyper-regulates at the first and last larval stages and does not hypo-regulate at the juvenile-adult stages. The capacity of H. sanguineus to osmoregulate over most of the life cycle should underpin the potential to invade empty niches in the coastal zone (characterized by low salinity and high temperatures). Osmoregulation abilities over the whole life cycle also constitute a strong competitive advantage over C. maenas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Torres
- * Corresponding author: Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, 27498 Helgoland, Germany. Tel: +49 4725 8193141.
| | - Guy Charmantier
- Marbec, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, 34095 cx 05 Montpellier, France
| | - Luis Giménez
- Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
- School of Ocean Sciences, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Bangor University, LL59 5AB Menai Bridge, UK
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Griffen BD, van den Akker D, DiNuzzo ER, Anderson L, Vernier A. Comparing methods for predicting the impacts of invasive species. Biol Invasions 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-020-02377-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Griffen BD, Bailey J, Carver J, Vernier A, DiNuzzo ER, Anderson L, Meidell M, Potter B. Mechanisms of possible self-limitation in the invasive Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16908. [PMID: 33037256 PMCID: PMC7547685 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74053-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Population sizes of invasive species are commonly characterized by boom-bust dynamics, and self-limitation via resource depletion is posited as one factor leading to these boom-bust changes in population size. Yet, while this phenomenon is well-documented in plants, few studies have demonstrated that self-limitation is possible for invasive animal species, especially those that are mobile. Here we examined the invasive Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus, a species that reached very high abundances throughout invaded regions of North America, but has recently declined in many of these same regions. We examined the relationship between diet, energy storage, reproduction, and growth in crabs collected from the New Hampshire coast. We show that energy storage and reproduction both increase with diet quality, while growth declines with diet quality. These results suggest that self-limitation may be a contributing factor to the recent declines of H. sanguineus at sites where this invader was once much more abundant. Further, these results suggest a diet-associated tradeoff in energy allocation to different vital rates, with a focus on reproduction when high quality resources are consumed, and a focus instead on growth when poor quality resources are consumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blaine D Griffen
- Biology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84662, USA.
| | - James Bailey
- Biology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84662, USA
| | - Jade Carver
- Biology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84662, USA
| | - Ashley Vernier
- Biology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84662, USA
| | | | - Lars Anderson
- Biology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84662, USA
| | - Morgan Meidell
- Biology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84662, USA
| | - Ben Potter
- Biology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84662, USA
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Bloch CP, Curry KD, Fisher-Reid MC, Surasinghe TD. Population Decline of the Invasive Asian Shore Crab (Hemigrapsus sanguineus) and Dynamics of Associated Intertidal Invertebrates on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2019. [DOI: 10.1656/045.026.0408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher P. Bloch
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA 02325
| | - Kevin D. Curry
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA 02325
| | | | - Thilina D. Surasinghe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA 02325
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Lehnert SJ, DiBacco C, Jeffery NW, Blakeslee AMH, Isaksson J, Roman J, Wringe BF, Stanley RRE, Matheson K, McKenzie CH, Hamilton LC, Bradbury IR. Temporal dynamics of genetic clines of invasive European green crab ( Carcinus maenas) in eastern North America. Evol Appl 2018; 11:1656-1670. [PMID: 30344634 PMCID: PMC6183463 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Revised: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Two genetically distinct lineages of European green crabs (Carcinus maenas) were independently introduced to eastern North America, the first in the early 19th century and the second in the late 20th century. These lineages first came into secondary contact in southeastern Nova Scotia, Canada (NS), where they hybridized, producing latitudinal genetic clines. Previous studies have documented a persistent southward shift in the clines of different marker types, consistent with existing dispersal and recruitment pathways. We evaluated current clinal structure by quantifying the distribution of lineages and fine-scale hybridization patterns across the eastern North American range (25 locations, ~39 to 49°N) using informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; n = 96). In addition, temporal changes in the genetic clines were evaluated using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite loci (n = 9-11) over a 15-year period (2000-2015). Clinal structure was consistent with prior work demonstrating the existence of both northern and southern lineages with a hybrid zone occurring between southern New Brunswick (NB) and southern NS. Extensive later generation hybrids were detected in this region and in southeastern Newfoundland. Temporal genetic analysis confirmed the southward progression of clines over time; however, the rate of this progression was slower than predicted by forecasting models, and current clines for all marker types deviated significantly from these predictions. Our results suggest that neutral and selective processes contribute to cline dynamics, and ultimately, highlight how selection, hybridization, and dispersal can collectively influence invasion success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J. Lehnert
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries CentreFisheries and Oceans CanadaSt. John'sNewfoundlandCanada
| | - Claudio DiBacco
- Bedford Institute of OceanographyFisheries and Oceans CanadaDartmouthNova ScotiaCanada
| | - Nicholas W. Jeffery
- Bedford Institute of OceanographyFisheries and Oceans CanadaDartmouthNova ScotiaCanada
| | | | - Jonatan Isaksson
- Gund Institute for EnvironmentUniversity of VermontBurlingtonVermont
| | - Joe Roman
- Gund Institute for EnvironmentUniversity of VermontBurlingtonVermont
| | - Brendan F. Wringe
- Bedford Institute of OceanographyFisheries and Oceans CanadaDartmouthNova ScotiaCanada
| | - Ryan R. E. Stanley
- Bedford Institute of OceanographyFisheries and Oceans CanadaDartmouthNova ScotiaCanada
| | - Kyle Matheson
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries CentreFisheries and Oceans CanadaSt. John'sNewfoundlandCanada
| | - Cynthia H. McKenzie
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries CentreFisheries and Oceans CanadaSt. John'sNewfoundlandCanada
| | - Lorraine C. Hamilton
- Aquatic Biotechnology LaboratoryBedford Institute of OceanographyDartmouthNova ScotiaCanada
| | - Ian R. Bradbury
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries CentreFisheries and Oceans CanadaSt. John'sNewfoundlandCanada
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O'Connor NJ. Changes in Population Sizes ofHemigrapsus sanguineus(Asian Shore Crab) and Resident Crab Species in Southeastern New England (2010–2016). Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2018. [DOI: 10.1656/045.025.0202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nancy J. O'Connor
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747;
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Lord JP. Potential impact of the Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus on native northeast Pacific crabs. Biol Invasions 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-017-1399-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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