The Green Crab found along our shores are native to the Atlantic Coasts of Europe and North Africa.
his species has the ability to disperse as adults by a variety of anthropogenic and natural mechanisms including: 1) ballast, 2) ship's hulls, 3) packing materials (seaweeds) used to ship live marine organisms, 4) bivalves moved for aquaculture, 5) rafting, 6) migration on surface currents, and 7) movement of submerged aquatic vegetation for coastal zone management initiatives (Introduced Marine Aquatic Invaders, Fisheries of Western Australia). Green crabs also spread by planktonic transport of larvae and once established in an area can expand their range rapidly (Grosholz 1996, Grosholz and Ruiz 2002). According to some experts the Green Crab is one of the more successful invasive predators because they have established large populations on five different continents.
The introduction of the Green Crab to these many ecosystems has had a negative influence on the soft-shell clams, young oysters, and native crabs in the many areas they live in now. But the Green Crab is also prey to many birds, larger crabs/lobsters and while they are still young to many fish as well. There isn't anything one to control the population or to control there impact of Green Crabs because they are not destroying any particular species and they are also prey for many other predators.
The Green Crab found along our shores are native to the Atlantic Coasts of Europe and North Africa. his species has the ability to disperse as adults by a variety of anthropogenic and natural mechanisms including: 1) ballast, 2) ship's hulls, 3) packing materials (seaweeds) used to ship live marine organisms, 4) bivalves moved for aquaculture, 5) rafting, 6) migration on surface currents, and 7) movement of submerged aquatic vegetation for coastal zone management initiatives (Introduced Marine Aquatic Invaders, Fisheries of Western Australia). Green crabs also spread by planktonic transport of larvae and once established in an area can expand their range rapidly (Grosholz 1996, Grosholz and Ruiz 2002). According to some experts the Green Crab is one of the more successful invasive predators because they have established large populations on five different continents.
The introduction of the Green Crab to these many ecosystems has had a negative influence on the soft-shell clams, young oysters, and native crabs in the many areas they live in now. But the Green Crab is also prey to many birds, larger crabs/lobsters and while they are still young to many fish as well. There isn't anything one to control the population or to control there impact of Green Crabs because they are not destroying any particular species and they are also prey for many other predators.
The green crab is very populated off our shore but it also provides food to many fish and birds. Aaron what are the size limits how big can they get?
ReplyDeleteHow does rafting disperse the Green Crab? Do they attach themselves to the bottoms of rafts that move?
ReplyDeleteWhat is planktonic transport? Do they attach to plankton?
ReplyDelete