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Temporal and spatial refugia modify predation risk for non-native crabs in rocky intertidal habitats.

ABSTRACT: 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.

SUBMITTER: Montanaro RC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10840497 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Temporal and spatial refugia modify predation risk for non-native crabs in rocky intertidal habitats.

Montanaro Renee C RC O'Connor Nancy J NJ

PeerJ 20240202

Populations of the non-native Asian shore crab, <i>Hemigrapsus sanguineus</i>, 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 <i>H. sanguineus</i> or the influence of habitat on predation pressure. To assess natural predation rates of adult ...[more]

PMID: 38317840

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Project description:This study examined echinoderm assemblages from nearshore rocky habitats for large-scale distribution patterns with specific emphasis on identifying latitudinal trends and large regional hotspots. Echinoderms were sampled from 76 globally-distributed sites within 12 ecoregions, following the standardized sampling protocol of the Census of Marine Life NaGISA project (www.nagisa.coml.org). Sample-based species richness was overall low (<1-5 species per site), with a total of 32 asteroid, 18 echinoid, 21 ophiuroid, and 15 holothuroid species. Abundance and species richness in intertidal assemblages sampled with visual methods (organisms >2 cm in 1 m(2) quadrats) was highest in the Caribbean ecoregions and echinoids dominated these assemblages with an average of 5 ind m(-2). In contrast, intertidal echinoderm assemblages collected from clearings of 0.0625 m(2) quadrats had the highest abundance and richness in the Northeast Pacific ecoregions where asteroids and holothurians dominated with an average of 14 ind 0.0625 m(-2). Distinct latitudinal trends existed for abundance and richness in intertidal assemblages with declines from peaks at high northern latitudes. No latitudinal trends were found for subtidal echinoderm assemblages with either sampling technique. Latitudinal gradients appear to be superseded by regional diversity hotspots. In these hotspots echinoderm assemblages may be driven by local and regional processes, such as overall productivity and evolutionary history. We also tested a set of 14 environmental variables (six natural and eight anthropogenic) as potential drivers of echinoderm assemblages by ecoregions. The natural variables of salinity, sea-surface temperature, chlorophyll a, and primary productivity were strongly correlated with echinoderm assemblages; the anthropogenic variables of inorganic pollution and nutrient contamination also contributed to correlations. Our results indicate that nearshore echinoderm assemblages appear to be shaped by a network of environmental and ecological processes, and by the differing responses of various echinoderm taxa, making generalizations about the patterns of nearshore rocky habitat echinoderm assemblages difficult.

Dataset Information

Temporal and spatial refugia modify predation risk for non-native crabs in rocky intertidal habitats.

Publications

Temporal and spatial refugia modify predation risk for non-native crabs in rocky intertidal habitats.

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