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Upper thermal tolerance in red and blue king crab: sublethal and lethal effects

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Abstract

Red and blue king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus and P. platypus) are both important fisheries species in Alaska. Despite the threat of climate change, the upper thermal tolerance of these species has been little studied. In this paper, we determine the lethal and sub-lethal thermal responses of year-0 juvenile red and blue king crab. Crab were exposed to a range of temperatures for 24 h to determine the lethal temperature at which mortality was 50% (LT50). Feeding rations were determined at sub-lethal temperatures for both species. Finally, crab were held for 45 days at sub-lethal temperatures and growth and long-term mortality rates were measured. The LT50s of red and blue king crab were 24.3 and 21.3 °C, respectively. Feeding ration peaked between 12 and 17 °C for red king crab and between 5 and 10 °C for blue king crab. The growth rate of red king crab decreased at temperatures above 12 °C, while blue king crab exhibited very low growth rates at temperatures 12 °C and above. Increased mortality in the 45-day experiment occurred for red king crab at 20 °C and blue king crab at 17 °C. This study suggests that, within their current distribution, the juveniles of both species could withstand warming of several degrees and not be thermally stressed; however, more research into the effect of increased temperature variability and other response variables, such as resting and active respiration, is needed. In addition, increased temperature could affect other life-history stages differently or have indirect effects, such as altered species interactions and food availability.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the staff of the Kodiak Laboratory, particularly K. Swiney, A. Emley, S. Van Sant, R. Fields, and S. Dresdow, and the Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery for assistance in rearing the juvenile crab, and N. Gabriel for help performing the experiments. Previous versions of this paper were improved by comments from K. Swiney and J. Long. The findings and conclusions in the paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA. Reference to trade names or commercial firms does not imply endorsement by the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA.

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  1. Benjamin Daly

    Present address: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 301 Research Ct., Kodiak, AK, 99615, USA

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  1. Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division, Kodiak Laboratory, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, 301 Research Ct., Kodiak, AK, 99615, USA

    W. Christopher Long

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Long, W.C., Daly, B. Upper thermal tolerance in red and blue king crab: sublethal and lethal effects. Mar Biol 164, 162 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-017-3190-1

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