Temporal and spatial refugia modify predation risk for non-native crabs in rocky intertidal habitats
Populations of the non-native Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, now dominate the rocky intertidal of southern New England, USA. High abundances suggest the recent invader may have experienced enhanced success as a result of enemy release. While larvae and juveniles may serve as a food source...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PeerJ Inc.
2024-02-01
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| Series: | PeerJ |
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/16852.pdf |
| _version_ | 1827358962585960448 |
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| author | Renee C. Montanaro Nancy J. O’Connor |
| author_facet | Renee C. Montanaro Nancy J. O’Connor |
| author_sort | Renee C. Montanaro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Populations of the non-native Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, now dominate the rocky intertidal of southern New England, USA. High abundances suggest the recent invader may have experienced enhanced success as a result of enemy release. While larvae and juveniles may serve as a food source for ecologically important species, little is known about predation of mature H. sanguineus or the influence of habitat on predation pressure. To assess natural predation rates of adult H. sanguineus, crabs were tethered in the intertidal at Clarks Cove in New Bedford, MA. Crabs were left in situ for half of a tidal cycle then observed for signs of predation. Results of separate high and low tide trials showed that adult crabs were preyed upon at both high and low tide, though at a significantly higher rate during high tide during both daytime and nighttime, suggesting predation by aquatic species is greater than that by terrestrial species. To investigate the role of habitat as refuge from predation, a laboratory experiment manipulated the complexity of habitat provided to crabs in the presence of a native fish predator. Results indicate better refuge is provided by more complex shelter. Together, findings suggest that fish, crabs, and/or diving birds are important predators for H. sanguineus in the invaded range and that habitat refuge acts to reduce predation pressure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:18:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bfbc8bd5f9d84c7b9d615c316487f494 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:18:46Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-bfbc8bd5f9d84c7b9d615c316487f4942024-02-04T15:05:11ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592024-02-0112e1685210.7717/peerj.16852Temporal and spatial refugia modify predation risk for non-native crabs in rocky intertidal habitatsRenee C. Montanaro0Nancy J. O’Connor1Biology Department, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA, United States of AmericaBiology Department, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA, United States of AmericaPopulations of the non-native Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, now dominate the rocky intertidal of southern New England, USA. High abundances suggest the recent invader may have experienced enhanced success as a result of enemy release. While larvae and juveniles may serve as a food source for ecologically important species, little is known about predation of mature H. sanguineus or the influence of habitat on predation pressure. To assess natural predation rates of adult H. sanguineus, crabs were tethered in the intertidal at Clarks Cove in New Bedford, MA. Crabs were left in situ for half of a tidal cycle then observed for signs of predation. Results of separate high and low tide trials showed that adult crabs were preyed upon at both high and low tide, though at a significantly higher rate during high tide during both daytime and nighttime, suggesting predation by aquatic species is greater than that by terrestrial species. To investigate the role of habitat as refuge from predation, a laboratory experiment manipulated the complexity of habitat provided to crabs in the presence of a native fish predator. Results indicate better refuge is provided by more complex shelter. Together, findings suggest that fish, crabs, and/or diving birds are important predators for H. sanguineus in the invaded range and that habitat refuge acts to reduce predation pressure.https://peerj.com/articles/16852.pdfAsian shore crabHemigrapsus sanguineusRocky intertidalPredationTautoga onitisTethering |
| spellingShingle | Renee C. Montanaro Nancy J. O’Connor Temporal and spatial refugia modify predation risk for non-native crabs in rocky intertidal habitats PeerJ Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus Rocky intertidal Predation Tautoga onitis Tethering |
| title | Temporal and spatial refugia modify predation risk for non-native crabs in rocky intertidal habitats |
| title_full | Temporal and spatial refugia modify predation risk for non-native crabs in rocky intertidal habitats |
| title_fullStr | Temporal and spatial refugia modify predation risk for non-native crabs in rocky intertidal habitats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temporal and spatial refugia modify predation risk for non-native crabs in rocky intertidal habitats |
| title_short | Temporal and spatial refugia modify predation risk for non-native crabs in rocky intertidal habitats |
| title_sort | temporal and spatial refugia modify predation risk for non native crabs in rocky intertidal habitats |
| topic | Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus Rocky intertidal Predation Tautoga onitis Tethering |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/16852.pdf |
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