Diet and some ecological features of the most widespread commercial crab species in the northwestern Sea of Japan in early spring

Abstract

Results of the study of feeding habits of the commercial crab species Chionoecetes opilio, Ch. japonicus, Paralithodes platypus, P. camtschaticus, and Erimacrus isenbeckii in early spring 2009 are pre sented. The composition, distribution, and quantitative characteristics of benthos in the areas of sampling are analyzed. The generalized pattern of distribution of the considered crabs is shown with the maximum and mean densities. These crabs were found to consume at least three to four single portions of food during 10-12 hours of daylight. The lowest feeding intensity was observed in the opilio snow crab in March and April. Cannibalism proved to be typical for all the studied crab species in the spring. It was most developed in the deepwater red snow crab, in whose diet representatives of the same species constituted a one third share. It was also noted that the diet of the studied crabs included a major proportion of crabs and shrimps, which was unusual for the feeding habits of the same species in other Far Eastern seas.

Diet analysis of Alaska Arctic snow crabs (Chionoecetes opilio) using stomach contents and δ13C and δ15N stable isotopes

“…Cannibalism has also been observed in populations in the northern Bering Sea (Kolts et al 2013a), Newfoundland (Wieczorek andHooper 1995, Squires andDawe 2003), and the Sea of Japan (Chuchukalo et al 2011). For example in the Sea of Japan, crabs were the main single prey item of snow crabs by FO (17.6%) and prey mass (18%, Chuchukalo et al 2011). In the northern Bering Sea, cannibalism on small juveniles (< 20 mm CW) occurred in localized regions and reached an FO of ~40% in snow crab stomachs (Kolts et al 2013a).…”

“…Cannibalistic feeding has been a common occurrence in laboratory studies of snow crabs, with 55% of crabs < 50 mm CW cannibalized by larger crabs (Dutil et al 1997). Cannibalism has also been observed in populations in the northern Bering Sea (Kolts et al 2013a), Newfoundland (Wieczorek andHooper 1995, Squires andDawe 2003), and the Sea of Japan (Chuchukalo et al 2011). For example in the Sea of Japan, crabs were the main single prey item of snow crabs by FO (17.6%) and prey mass (18%, Chuchukalo et al 2011).…”

“…Snow crabs generally occupy a predatory and scavenging role. Where diet studies have occurred, snow crabs consume a large variety of benthic prey including bivalves, gastropods, polychaetes, ophiuroids, and crustaceans (Bering Sea: Tarverdieva 1981, Kolts et al 2013a Chukchi Sea: Feder and Jewett 1978; Sea of Japan: Yasuda 1967, Chuchukalo et al 2011 western North Atlantic: Lefebvre and Brêthes 1991, Wieczorek and Hooper 1995, Lovrich and Sainte-Marie 1997, Squires and Dawe 2003. In some regions, cannibalism on juveniles, combined with predation on other crab species, also is an important contribution to their diet Sainte-Marie 1997, Chuchukalo et al 2011).…”

Trophic niches of benthic crustaceans in the Pechora Sea suggest that the invasive snow crab Chionoecetes opilio could be an important competitor

“…Several previous studies on diets of C. opilio were mostly conducted in Atlantic Canada (Miller 1981;Brethes et al 1982;Wieczorek and Hooper 1995;Squires and Dawe 2003), with some studies in the Pacific Arctic (Chuchukalo et al 2011;Divine et al 2017), the North Pacific (Tarverdieva 1981;Nadtochiy et al 2004), and in the Barents Sea (Manushin et al 2016;Zakharov et al 2018). Studies on C. opilio diets have all reported diverse diets and the main food items varying between locations: polychaetes and crustaceans near the northeastern Newfoundland shelf (Squires and Dawe 2003); polychaetes and bivalves near the east coast of Newfoundland (Miller 1981); and fish near Bonne Bay, off the west coast of Newfoundland (Wieczorek and Hooper 1995).…”

Growth ofStegophiura nodosa(Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea) in the Pechora Sea

“…For example, in many studies on the nutrition of bottom-living fish, authors have noted the presence of different amounts of ophiuroids in the general composition of the stomach contents (Komarova, 1939; Templeman, 1982, 1985; Zamarro, 1992; Napakazov & Chucukalo, 2002; Pushchina, 2005). They can also be an important item of diet for crabs, including commercial species (Hebard & McLaughlin, 1961; Squires & Dawe, 2003; Zhivoglyadova, 2005; Chuchukalo et al ., 2011).…”