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Hide and seek: habitat-mediated interactions between European green crabs and native mud crabs in Atlantic Canada

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Abstract

The non-indigenous European green crab (Carcinus maenas) has well-documented impacts on many native species. In the Atlantic Canada region, the green crab distribution is increasingly overlapping with the distribution of mud crabs (primarily Dyspanopeus sayi), a prominent native species. Despite the potential for antagonistic interactions, the relationship between the two species has not been examined, particularly in the context of the diversity of habitats available in the region. This study used observational beach seine data collected between 2009 and 2013 from the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence to explore the temporal and spatial relationships between mud crabs and green crabs, and detected a negative relationship between these species. Twenty-four-hour laboratory experiments examined their predator–prey interactions and assessed the influence of habitat complexity on the outcomes of these interactions. Mud crabs and similar-sized green crabs collected during July and August of 2010 and 2011 were used as prey for large green crab. These predators consumed almost twice as many mud crab compared with juvenile green crab in the two less structured habitats (no substrate or sandy substrate), but predation rates were statistically similar in oyster bed habitat. In that particular habitat, mud crab mortality dropped by ~65 %, whereas the generally lower mortality affecting juvenile green crabs was unaffected by habitat. These results suggest that complex habitats mediate predator–prey interactions and dampen the effect of green crab prey preference. As green crab continues to invade areas dominated by mud crabs, they may threaten the sustainability of this native species.

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Acknowledgments

Dr E. Paolucci and an anonymous reviewer provided valuable comments on a preliminary version of this manuscript. This study was funded by a NSERC Discovery grant to PAQ and a NSERC CGSM to HG. RC was funded by the Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program. The Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (CAMP) is jointly coordinated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada–Gulf Region and the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Coalition on Sustainability.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PE, C1A 4P3, Canada

    Hannah Gehrels, Kyle M. Knysh & Pedro A. Quijón

  2. Gulf Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 343 University Avenue, Moncton, NB, E1C 9B6, Canada

    Monica Boudreau & Marie-Hélène Thériault

  3. School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, Canadian Rivers Institute and Canadian Water Network, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada

    Simon C. Courtenay

  4. Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PE, C1A 4P3, Canada

    Ruth Cox

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  1. Hannah Gehrels
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  2. Kyle M. Knysh
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  4. Marie-Hélène Thériault
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  7. Pedro A. Quijón
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Correspondence to Pedro A. Quijón.

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Responsible Editor: E. Briski.

Reviewed by E. Paolucci and an Undisclosed expert.

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Invasive Species.

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Gehrels, H., Knysh, K.M., Boudreau, M. et al. Hide and seek: habitat-mediated interactions between European green crabs and native mud crabs in Atlantic Canada. Mar Biol 163, 152 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-016-2927-6

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