Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Regional differences in foraging behaviour of invasive green crab (Carcinus maenas) populations in Atlantic Canada

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biological Invasions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Invasive green crab populations initially established in Canada within the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick in the 1950s and were present in all five Atlantic provinces by 2007. Genetic evidence suggests that the Atlantic Canadian populations originated from two separate introductions with differences in time of establishment among regions and possible population-level behavioural differences. In this study, we examine intraspecific foraging behaviour among crabs from different populations, and interspecific foraging behaviour between genetically similar crabs and juvenile lobsters. Both sets of foraging experiments involved competition for a limited food source over a 1-h period. In intraspecific match-ups, recent invaders from Newfoundland (NL) were significantly superior foragers than long-established invaders from Nova Scotia (NS) and New Brunswick (NB) populations; however, we found no differences between NL and Prince Edward Island (PE) invaders. Crabs from PE were better competitors than those from NS and NB, but these differences were not significant. Interspecific competition experiments indicated that the feeding behaviour of recent invaders (NL) and genetically similar, but long-established invaders (NS), differed in the presence of juvenile lobsters. Our study documents striking behavioural differences among populations of green crab from a small geographic region, which may reflect a combination of both genetic differences and time since establishment. These differences may result in varying impacts on newly invaded habitats.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbott KL, Greaves SNJ, Ritchie PA, Lester PJ (2007) Behaviourally and genetically distinct populations of an invasive ant provide insight into invasion history and impacts on a tropical ant community. Biol Inv 9:453–463. doi:10.1007/s10530-006-9052-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Audet D, Davis DS, Miron G, Moriyasu M, Benhalima K, Campbell R (2003) Geographic expansion of a nonindigenous crab. Carcinus maenas (L.), along the Nova Scotian shore into the southeastern Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada. J Shellfish Res 22:255–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Behrens Yamada S, Dumbauld BR, Kalin A, Hunt CE, Figlar-Barnes R, Randall A (2005) Growth and persistence of a recent invader Carcinus maenas in estuaries of the northeastern Pacific. Biol Invasion 7:309–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blakeslee AMH, McKenzie CH, Darling JA, Byers JE, Pringle JM, Roman J (2010) A hitchhiker’s guide to the Maritimes: anthropogenic transport facilitates long-distance dispersal of an invasive marine crab to Newfoundland. Divers Distrib 16(6):879–891. doi:10.1111/j.1472-4642.2010.00703.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlton JT (1999) The scale and ecological consequences of biological invasions in the World’s oceans. In: Sandlund OT, Schei PJ, Viken A (eds) Invasive Species and Biodiversity Management, pp 195–212, Dordrecht. The Netherlands, Kluwer Academic

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlton JT, Cohen AN (2003) Episodic global dispersal in shallow water marine organisms: the case history of the European shore crabs Carcinus maenas and C. aestuarii. J Biogeogr 30:1809–1820. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2699.2003.00962.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark MC, Wolcott TG, Wolcott DL, Hines AH (2000) Foraging behavior of an estuarine predator, the blue crab Callinectes sapidus in a patchy environment. Ecography 23:21–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen AN, Carlton JT, Fountain MC (1995) Introduction, dispersal and potential impacts of the green crab Carcinus maenas in San Francisco Bay, California. Mar Biol 122:225–237

    Google Scholar 

  • Darling JA (2011) More than one way to invade: lessons from genetic studies of Carcinus shore crabs. In: Galil BS, Clark PF, Carlton JT (eds) The wrong place- alien marine crustaceans: distribution, biology and impacts, Springer series in invasion ecology, 1st (edn), pp 661–687

  • Darling JA, Bagley MJ, Roman J, Tepolt CK, Geller JB (2008) Genetic patterns across multiple introductions of the globally invasive crab genus Carcinus. Mol Ecol 17:4992–5007. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2008.03978.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duckworth RA, Badyaev AV (2007) Coupling of dispersal and aggression facilitates the rapid range expansion of a passerine bird. PNAS 104:15017–15022. doi:10.1073_pnas.0706174104

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ellstrand NC, Schierenbeck KA (2000) Hybridization as a stimulus for the evolution of invasiveness in plants? PNAS 97:7043–7050

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elner RW (1981) Diet of green crab Carcinus maenas from Port Hebert, Southwestern Nova Scotia. J Shellfish Res 1:89–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Grosholz ED, Ruiz GM (1995) Spread and potential impact of the recently introduced European green crab, Carcinus maenas, in central California. Mar Biol 122:239–247

    Google Scholar 

  • Grosholz ED, Ruiz GM (1996) Predicting the impact of introduced marine species: Lessons from the multiple invasions of the European green crab Carcinus maenas. Biol Conserv 78:59–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grosholz ED, Ruiz GM, Dean CA, Shirley KA, Maron JL, Connors PG (2000) The impacts of a nonindigenous marine predator in a California Bay. Ecology 81:1206–1224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hendrick AV, Riechert SE (1989) Genetically-based variation between two spider populations in foraging behavior. Oecologia 80:533–539

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holway DA, Suarez AV (1999) Animal behavior: an essential component of invasion biology. Trends Ecol Evol 14:328–330

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen GC, McDonald PS, Armstrong DA (2002) East meets west: competitive interactions between green crab Carcinus maenas, and native and introduced shore crab Hemigrapsus spp. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 225:251–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klassen G, Locke A (2007) A biological synopsis of the European green crab, Carcinus maenas. Can Manuscr Rep Fish Aquat Sci 2818: vii +75

  • Liebert AE, Gamboa GJ, Stamp NE, Curtis KM, Turillazzi S, Starks PT (2006) Genetics, behavior and ecology of a paper wasp invasion: Polistes dominulus in North America. Ann Zool Fennici 43:595–624

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockwood JL, Hoopes MF, Marchetti MP (2007) Invasion Ecology. Blackwell Publishing, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Lynch BR, Rochette R (2009) Spatial overlap and biotic interactions between sub-adult American lobsters, Homarus americanus, and the invasive European green crab Carcinus maenas. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 369:127–135. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2008.11.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald JA, Roudez R, Glover T, Weis JS (2007) The invasive green crab and Japanese shore crab: behavioral interactions with a native crab species, the blue crab. Biol Invasion 9:837–848. doi:10.1007/s10530-006-9085-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mascaro M, Seed R (2001) Foraging behavior of juvenile Carcinus maenas (L.) and Cancer pagurus. L. Mar Biol 139:1135–1145. doi: 10.1007/s002270100677

  • Mikheyev AS, Mueller UG (2007) Genetic relationships between native and introduced populations of the little fire ant Wasmannia auropuncata. Diversity Distrib 13:573–579. doi:10.1111/j.1472-4642.2007.00370.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pintor LM, Sih A (2010) Differences in growth and foraging behaviour of native and introduced populations of an invasive crayfish. Biol Invasions 11:1895–1902. doi:10.1007/s10530-008-9367-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pintor LM, Sih A, Bauer ML (2008) Differences in aggression, activity and boldness between native and introduced populations of an invasive crayfish. OIKOS 117:1629–1636. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0706.2008.16578.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pintor LM, Sih A, Kerby JL (2009) Behavioral correlations provide a mechanism for explaining high invader densities and increased impacts on native prey. Ecology 90:581–587. doi:10.1890/08-0552.1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rehage JS, Sih A (2004) Dispersal behavior, boldness and the link to invasiveness: A comparison of four Gambusia species. Biol Invasion 6:379–391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reichmuth JM, MacDonald J, Ramirez J, Weis JS (2011) Fight or flight: an investigation of aggressive behavior and predator avoidance in two populations of blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun) in New Jersey. Hydrobiologia 658:173–182. doi:10.1007/s10750-010-0460-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roman J (2006) Diluting the founder effect: cryptic invasions expand a marine invader’s home range. Proc R Soc B 273:1–7. doi:10.1098/rspb.2006.3597

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roman J, Darling JA (2007) Paradox lost: genetic diversity and the success of aquatic invasions. Trends Ecol Evol 22:454–464. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2007.07.002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ropes JW (1968) The feeding habits of the green crab Carcinus maenas (L.). Fish Bull 67:183–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossong MA, Williams PJ, Comeau M, Mitchell S, Apaloo J (2006) Agonistic interactions between invasive green crabs Carcinus maenas (Linnaeus) and juvenile American lobsters Homarus americanus (Milne Edwards). J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 329:281–288. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2005.09.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rossong MA, Quijón PA, Williams PJ, Snelgrove PVR (2011) Foraging and shelter behavior of juvenile American lobster (Homarus americanus):the influence of a non-indigenous crab. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 403:75–80. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2011.04.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simberloff D, Gibbons L (2004) Now you see them, now you don’t!- population crashes of established introduced species. Biol Invasion 6:161–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suarez AV, Holway DA, Tsutsui ND (2008) Genetics and behavior of a colonizing species: The invasive Argentine ants. The American Naturalist 172(S1):S72–S84. doi:10.1086/588638

  • Tamm GR, Cobb JS (1978) Behavior and the crustacean molt cycle: changes in aggression of Homarus americanus. Science 200:78–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vasquez Archdale M, Anraku K, Yamamoto T, Higashitani N (2003) Behavior of the Japanese rock crab ‘Ishigani’ Charybdis japonica towards two collapsible baited pots: evaluation of capture effectiveness. Fish Sci 69:785–791

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weis JS (2010) The role of behaviour in the success of invasive crustaceans. Mar Freshw Behav Phy 43:83–98. doi:10.1080/10236244.2010.480838

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williamson MH, Fitter A (1996) The characters of successful invaders. Biol Conserv 78:163–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Fisheries and Oceans Canada, M. Comeau, B. Comeau, R. Leblanc and G. Paulin for obtaining the juvenile lobsters and T. Wells, A. Nadeau, C. McCarthy, T. Pickering and L. Poirier for assistance with green crab collection and experiments. We also thank W. Petley and the personnel of the aquatic facility at the Atlantic Veterinarian College for their collaboration. Funding for this research was provided by NSERC Discovery Grants to PQ and PS, a contract from Fisheries and Oceans Canada as part of the Aquatic Invasive Species Research Program, NSERC PGS-D, NL RDC Ocean Industries Research Scholarship and a MUN graduate studies fellowship to MR. Comments from two anonymous reviewers improved the clarity of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and Ocean Sciences Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, A1C 5S7, Canada

    Melanie A. Rossong & Paul V. R. Snelgrove

  2. Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, C1A 4P3, Canada

    Melanie A. Rossong & Pedro A. Quijón

  3. Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB, E2L 4L5, Canada

    Timothy J. Barrett

  4. Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John’s, NL, A1C 5X1, Canada

    Cynthia H. McKenzie

  5. Gulf Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, P.O. Box 5030, Moncton, NB, E1C 9B6, Canada

    Andrea Locke

Authors
  1. Melanie A. Rossong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pedro A. Quijón
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Paul V. R. Snelgrove
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Timothy J. Barrett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Cynthia H. McKenzie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Andrea Locke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Melanie A. Rossong.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rossong, M.A., Quijón, P.A., Snelgrove, P.V.R. et al. Regional differences in foraging behaviour of invasive green crab (Carcinus maenas) populations in Atlantic Canada. Biol Invasions 14, 659–669 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-011-0107-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-011-0107-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation