Seasonal effects of intraspecific density and predator exclusion along a shore-level gradient on survival and growth of juveniles of the soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria L., in Maine, USA

Beal, Brian F.; Parker, Matthew R. P.; Vencile, Kenneth W

doi:10.1016/s0022-0981(01)00320-3

Cited by 63 publications

(55 citation statements)

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“…The green crab Carcinus maenas and the shrimp Crangon crangon are amongst the most common predators that inhabit the Tagus Estuary (Calvário 2001;Rodrigues et al 2006), apart from fishes and birds that feed in the intertidal area. In this sense, Beal et al (2001) concluded that predation was the main factor that explained the observed intertidal distribution of M. arenaria in Maine, on the eastern coast of North America.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Southern limit of distribution of the soft-shell clam Mya arenaria on the Atlantic East Coast

2009

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The invasive soft-shell clam Mya arenaria was recorded for the first time in the Tagus estuary, central Portugal. Propagules of the soft-shell clam were probably unintentionally introduced into the Tagus estuary through ballast water. Mya arenaria was observed in muddy sands in the upper intertidal zone. The assemblage in which the softshell clam was observed was composed of typical estuarine species such as the gastropod Hydrobia ulvae, the bivalve Scrobicularia plana and several polychaete species. The population density of Mya arenaria in the finding area was 40 ind m -2 with a fresh biomass of 163.5 g FW m -2 .

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Southern limit of distribution of the soft-shell clam Mya arenaria on the Atlantic East Coast

2009

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“…Studies on the role of predatory crustaceans at boreal and sub-arctic latitudes (> 35°N) have lagged in the use of experimental approaches (Beal et al 2001), particularly in sedimentary habitats as deep as 30 m. Literature describing predation effects on benthic communities has largely been restricted to correlative studies and stomach content analyses (Scarrat & Lowe 1972, Hudon & Lamarche 1989, Lefevre & Brêthes 1991, Stehlik 1993. A notable exception is the work on individual predator-prey interactions, particularly on the rock crab Cancer irroratus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential regulatory roles of crustacean predators in a sub-arctic, soft-sediment system

Quijón¹,

Snelgrove²

2005

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The role of predation in structuring soft-sediment communities varies as a function of the number and composition of predators that co-occur in a given habitat. In Bonne Bay, Newfoundland, contrasting abundances or predators in different areas of the bay may contribute to different regulatory roles of predators on infauna. To test this hypothesis, results from a field exclusion experiment were compared with 5 laboratory experiments that measured the individual effects of the main crustacean predators of the bay: snow crab, rock crab, and toad crab. In the field experiment, the exclusion of predators generated clear differences in infaunal composition, and 2 species (the polychaete Pholoe tecta and the clam Macoma calcarea) dominated exclusion treatments. Predator exclusion also resulted in a significant increase in density, but only a modest increase in infaunal diversity. In the laboratory, fresh, undisturbed sediment cores were paired with similar cores, protected by mesh and exposed to each crab species in order to test for their potential effects on infaunal communities. Results indicate that snow crab and rock crab have clear effects on species composition and, as was the case with the field experiment, the infaunal species P. tecta and M. calcarea dominated exclusion treatments for both predatory crabs. These predators also reduced total infaunal density, but only rock crab significantly reduced species richness. In contrast, toad crab effects were not significant. Given that snow crab and rock crab are both targeted by commercial fisheries in Atlantic Canada, our results suggest that crab fishery removal may have multiple indirect effects on infaunal communities. KEY WORDS: Predation · Sediment · Sub-arctic · Exclusion · DiversityResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher

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“…; http://bangordailynews.com/2013/07/09/ environment/as-green-crab-invasion-takes-toll-on-maine-clams-researchers-worry-thatlobsters-are-next-victim/). Because clams along the upper shore grow more slowly than at lower tidal levels (Beal et al, 2001), and are significantly older than individuals lower on the shore (Powers et al 2006), clammers now are benefitting from a cumulative subsidy of years of commercial inactivity at upper shore levels. Because natural recruitment of Mya is highly variability throughout its range (Hunt et al, 2003;Bowen and Hunt, 2009;Vassiliev et al 2010;Morse and Hunt, 2013), at current exploitation rates, it is unclear how long softshell clams in Freeport and other southern Maine communities will remain a viable commercial industry.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loss of Eelgrass in Casco Bay, Maine, Linked to Green Crab Disturbance

Neckles¹

2015

Northeastern Naturalist

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARYIn 2013, the Freeport Town Council approved funding a "Shellfish Restoration Project."The overarching goals of this field-based effort were to: 1) understand how trapping, netting, and fencing can reduce green crab predation on young-of-the-year clams (i.e., spat, "recruits," or 0-year class individuals); and, 2) understand how reduced crab predation correlates with increased spat survival.Planned activities focused on three areas of study: 1) green crab trapping in the Harraseeket River at areas adjacent to and south of Weston Point (near Collins Cove) vs. areas north of Weston Point (at Porter Landing, Pettengill flat, and Sandy Beach) to collect information on the relationship between trap immersion time and catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE), how CPUE varied through time and by location, and how size-frequencies of male and female green crabs as well as sex ratios varied spatially and temporally; 2) the role of fenced vs. control vs. netted plots in enhancing 0-year class soft-shell clam individuals (Little River Flat); and 3) the effect of large-scale green crab fencing across an entire cove on enhancing wild softshell clam recruits (Recompence Flat).Green crab trapping (using 18-inch diameter x 36-inches long wire traps) occurred from 27May to 5 November, and involved a total of 15 clammers, seven of whom fished five to ten traps regularly over at least some of that period. A total of ca. 300 hauls (1 to 10 traps per haul) were recorded over the 162 days between May and November, with a total of 13,065 lbs. (ca. 6 metric tons) of green crabs harvested. Of that total, 11,715 crabs were measured and the sex of each determined. The average size (carapace width -CW) of crabs was 59.5 mm, and overall sex ratio (M:F) was 72% : 28%. Approximately 1% of females measured were ovigerous, and the last date than an egg-bearing female was trapped was 22 August. At three of four locations south of Weston Point (upper and lower intertidal near CollinsCove, and the subtidal channel off Weston Point), catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) was independent of time, averaging 8.8 lbs/trap. At the fourth location (lowest intertidal near Collins Cove), CPUE increased 100% from an average of 6.1 lbs/trap in June to 12.2 2 lbs/trap in August/September. At each of the three areas north of Weston Point, CPUE increased from June to September by an average of nearly 50% from 9.9 lbs/trap to 14.7 lbs/trap. Sex ratios were heavily skewed toward males during the earliest hauls (late May to mid-June) and, in six of the seven locations examined closely, the ratios fell significantly over time, with the greatest difference occurring at Pettengill flat where initial ratios were 89% : 11% that fell to 57% : 43% by late October/early November. The average CW of both male and female crabs in all locations decreased by about 4% over time.A concerted effort over a 6-day period between 25-30 July showed that there was no relationship between CPUE and trap immersion (soak) time (1-day vs. 2-days vs. 3-days) at two intertidal areas and one subtid...

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Seasonal effects of intraspecific density and predator exclusion along a shore-level gradient on survival and growth of juveniles of the soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria L., in Maine, USA

Cited by 63 publications

References 64 publications

Southern limit of distribution of the soft-shell clam Mya arenaria on the Atlantic East Coast

Southern limit of distribution of the soft-shell clam Mya arenaria on the Atlantic East Coast

Differential regulatory roles of crustacean predators in a sub-arctic, soft-sediment system

Loss of Eelgrass in Casco Bay, Maine, Linked to Green Crab Disturbance

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