Physiological and behavioral response of the Asian shore crab, , to salinity: implications for estuarine distribution and invasion
The invasive Asian shore crab,Hemigrapsus sanguineus, is ubiquitous in the rocky intertidal zone of the western North Atlantic. A likely contributor to this colonization is thatH._sanguineusis able to handle a wide range of salinities, and is thus more likely to spread through a greater geographic a...
| Published in: | PeerJ |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
PeerJ
2018
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://scholia.toolforge.org/work/Q56654692 http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q56654692 https://doi.org/10.7717/PEERJ.5446 |
| Summary: | The invasive Asian shore crab,Hemigrapsus sanguineus, is ubiquitous in the rocky intertidal zone of the western North Atlantic. A likely contributor to this colonization is thatH._sanguineusis able to handle a wide range of salinities, and is thus more likely to spread through a greater geographic area of estuaries. This study investigated the salinity effects on this animal by observing survival across a range of salinities, the maintenance of hemolymph osmolality under different salinities, and behavioral preference for and avoidance of salinities.H._sanguineusshowed high survival across a broad range of salinities, had little change in hemolymph osmolality over a short-term salinity shock, and behaviorally distinguished between salinities when presented with a choice, under both acclimation salinities of 5 PSU or 35 PSU. Such results suggestH._sanguineushas a hardiness for the rapid changes in salinity that happen in the intertidal zone, yet is capable of physically moving to a more optimal salinity. This enhances their competitiveness as an invader, particularly surviving lower salinities that present challenges during high-precipitation events in rocky intertidal areas, and partially explains this species’ dominance in this habitat type. |
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