Tidal elevation and parasitism: patterns of infection by the rhizocephalan parasite Sacculina carcini in shore crabs Carcinus maenas

Waser, Andreas M.; Goedknegt, M. Anouk; Dekker, R.; McSweeney, Niamh; Witte, Johannes Ij.; Meer, Jaap van der; Thieltges, David W.

doi:10.3354/meps11594

Cited by 20 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…2c). Whether there are also behavioural and distributional changes associated with infestations such as the ones observed in infestations with the rhizocephalan Sacculina carcini Thompson, 1836, which makes male and female crabs behave like egg-bearing females, moving into deeper waters (Waser et al 2016), is unclear and remains to be studied. We hope that the results of our sampling of P. maenadis in the Wadden Sea and the additional literature review on its European distribution will stimulate future research into the occurrence of this intriguing parasite species as well as on the impacts of parasite infestations on host populations and community ecology in general, because the role of parasitism in shaping communities may be of equal importance as other biotic factors such as predation and competition (Thieltges et al 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First record of the endoparasitic isopod Portunion maenadis (Giard, 1886) (Epicaridea: Entoniscidae) in shore crabs in the Wadden Sea and a review of its distribution in Europe

et al. 2019

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The knowledge on the distribution and abundance of marine parasites is still limited, even for those occurring on relatively well studied host species with high ecological importance. Here we report on the first record of the entoniscid Portunion maenadis (Giard, 1886) in European shore crabs (Carcinus maenas L., 1758) in the Wadden Sea and provide a quantitative review of the parasite's distribution in Europe based on published literature and biodiversity database records. Our new record closes a distribution gap of P. maenadis between previous southern observations in Portugal and France and northern occurrences in Denmark and Sweden. The additional literature survey suggests that P. maenadis is not very common and only occurs at scattered localities with prevalence of infestations usually well below 10% in host crab populations. However, the 45% prevalence observed in our study in November 2018 in the southern Wadden Sea indicates that also higher prevalences can occur. As the adult parasites feed on their host's hemolymph they are likely to have consequences for the host's energy budgets. In addition, infestations lead to morphological changes in the form of feminisation of male crabs (i.e. broader pleon, slender claws, bulging carapace) which we observed in several individuals. With this new record and literature review, we hope to spark future research into the distribution of this intriguing parasite species as well as on the impacts of infestations on shore crab hosts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First record of the endoparasitic isopod Portunion maenadis (Giard, 1886) (Epicaridea: Entoniscidae) in shore crabs in the Wadden Sea and a review of its distribution in Europe

et al. 2019

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“…Red phase C. maenas are externally parasitized by S. carcini to a higher degree than green phase crabs in the Mondega estuary in Portugal [261], and the Dutch Wadden Sea [262].…”

Section: Pathogens and Parasitesmentioning

confidence: 98%

PopulationDynamics of Green Crabs (Carcinus maenas) -- A Review

Young¹,

Elliott²

2018

Preprint

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Carcinus maenas (the "shore crab" or "European green crab") is a very proficient invader (considered to be one of the world's 100 worst invaders by the IUCN) due to its phenotypic plasticity, wide temperature and salinity tolerance, and an extensive omnivorous diet. Native to Atlantic Europe, it has established two well-studied nonindigenous populations in the northwestern Atlantic and northeastern Pacific and lessstudied populations in Australia, Argentina and South Africa. Green crabs are eurythermal and euryhaline as adults, but they are limited to temperate coastlines due to more restrictive temperature requirements for breeding and larval development. They cannot tolerate wave-swept open shores so are found in wave-protected sheltered bays, estuaries and harbors. C. maenas has been the subject of numerous papers, with over 1000 published in the past decade. This literature review provides an up-to-date account of the current published information on the population dynamics of this very important species, including habitat preferences, physical parameter tolerances, reproduction and larval development, sizes of crabs, densities of populations, sex ratios, ecosystem dynamics and ecological impacts in the various established global populations of green crabs.

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“…Red phase C. maenas are externally parasitized by S. carcini to a higher degree than green phase crabs in the Mondega estuary in Portugal [349], and the Dutch Wadden Sea [350]. The youngest developmental stages of the barnacle predominantly occur when the crabs are green, the intermediate stages when they are orange, and the oldest when they are red [344], and it has been shown most recently that the success of male green crab S. carcini acquisition is susceptible to both seasonal and regional variation in the native range [351]. Infected crabs are castrated by the parasite and cease molting [219,345,352].…”

Section: Pathogens and Parasitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life History and Population Dynamics of Green Crabs (<em>Carcinus maenas</em>)

Young¹,

Elliott²

2019

Preprint

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Carcinus maenas (the “shore crab” or “European green crab”) is a very proficient invader (considered to be one of the world’s 100 worst invaders by the IUCN) due to its phenotypic plasticity, wide temperature and salinity tolerance, and an extensive omnivorous diet. Native to Atlantic Europe, it has established two well‐studied nonindigenous populations in the northwestern Atlantic and northeastern Pacific and less‐studied populations in Australia, Argentina and South Africa. Green crabs are eurythermal and euryhaline as adults, but they are limited to temperate coastlines due to more restrictive temperature requirements for breeding and larval development. They cannot tolerate wave‐swept open shores so are found in wave‐protected sheltered bays, estuaries and harbors. Carcinus maenas has been the subject of numerous papers, with over 1000 published in the past decade. This review provides an up‐to‐date account of the current published information on the life history and population dynamics of this very important species, including genetic differentiation, habitat preferences, physical parameter tolerances, reproduction and larval development, sizes of crabs, densities of populations, sex ratios, ecosystem dynamics and ecological impacts in the various established global populations of green crabs.

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Tidal elevation and parasitism: patterns of infection by the rhizocephalan parasite Sacculina carcini in shore crabs Carcinus maenas

Abstract: 18While the distinct zonation patterns of benthic organisms along intertidal elevation gradients

Cited by 20 publications

References 37 publications

First record of the endoparasitic isopod Portunion maenadis (Giard, 1886) (Epicaridea: Entoniscidae) in shore crabs in the Wadden Sea and a review of its distribution in Europe

First record of the endoparasitic isopod Portunion maenadis (Giard, 1886) (Epicaridea: Entoniscidae) in shore crabs in the Wadden Sea and a review of its distribution in Europe

PopulationDynamics of Green Crabs (Carcinus maenas) -- A Review

Life History and Population Dynamics of Green Crabs (<em>Carcinus maenas</em>)

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