Trophic habits of the invasive crab Libinia dubia H. Milne Edwards, 1834 from the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia)

Chaffai, Amani; Rjiba-Bahri, Wafa; Abidi, Asma; Denis, Franҫoise; Souissi, Jamila Ben

doi:10.12681/mms.22001

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Ovigerous females bury themselves and do not leave the bottom to protect the eggs. This behavior was previously confirmed by studying the species' trophic habits, where L. dubia ovigerous females presented empty stomachs and showed no feeding activity compared to non-ovigerous females and males (Chaffai et al, 2020). It is important to mention that the samples used in this study came from coastal fishing activities; therefore, the low abundance (or even absence) of females during the hot period could also be explained by the clear preference of females for deep, high-salinity waters (Archambault et al, 1990).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…For example, it reached maturity at a smaller size than that recorded in the indigenous spider crab M. squinado (Baklouti et al, 2015). The conditions of reproduction and growth (i.e., food availability) are favorable in the Gulf of Gabès (Chaffai et al, 2020), which probably ex- plains the high dispersal ability and successful establishment of the species in the newly invaded environment for more than two decades. Size at onset sexual maturity data can subsequently support adaptation of management arrangements.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The longnose spider crab L. dubia is the only species of this genus known to occur in the Mediterranean Sea, suggesting its invasive behavior and adaptive potential. In the Mediterranean Sea, studies on this species have examined its morphological and biochemical aspects in addition to its trophic habits (Rjiba-Bahri et al, 2019;Chaffai et al, 2020). This study is the first to investigate the reproductive biology of L. dubia outside of its natural range.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reproductive features of the invasive crab Libinia dubia H. Milne Edwards, 1834 from the Central Mediterranean Sea

et al. 2023

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Reproduction is a key feature in the dynamics and establishment of non-indigenous species in new areas. Thus, reproductive biology studies are particularly important for predicting whether alien species can become invasive and to pinpoint the most effective time to implement management options and mitigation actions. Here, we report the reproductive aspects of the invasive crab Libinia dubia from the central Mediterranean Sea. The population was sampled monthly for two years (January 2015 to December 2016) on the southern Tunisian coasts (Gulf of Gabès). A total of 4469 specimens were examined, of which 50.88% were males and 49.12% were females (Confidence Interval, CI = 0.015). The overall sex ratio was slightly male-biased (1: 0.97). The first gonadal sexual maturity was earlier in females than in males. Fecundity increased with crab size and weight. Libinia dubia has a single annual spawning season (March to July) in the study area. Species reproductive activity was greatest in spring, with a peak in May, while the sexual rest phase occurred during October and November in females and from September to November in males. Reproduction is one of the most influential factors in the ability of invasive species to successfully thrive and establish a population in a new environment. Our results provide important biological inputs for improving the understanding of L. dubia reproductive performance and support recommendations for research relevant to the prediction of future L. dubia invasions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reproductive features of the invasive crab Libinia dubia H. Milne Edwards, 1834 from the Central Mediterranean Sea

et al. 2023

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“…Studying the diet of non-indigenous species helps predict food web interactions (Chaffai et al 2020) and recognize the potential impacts on newly invaded areas (Triay-Portella et al 2022). Stomach content analysis is a universal method for detailed exploration of diet composition and feeding ecology as it allows reasonably accurate quantification of a species' diet in a full array of habitats (Hyslop 1980;Hines 2007;Triay-Portella et al 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet of the Invasive Atlantic Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Decapoda, Portunidae) in the Guadalquivir Estuary (Spain)

Ortega-Jiménez,

Cuesta,

Laiz

et al. 2024

Estuaries and Coasts

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The Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Decapoda, Portunidae) Rathbun, 1896 is native to the east coasts of North and South America and has recently expanded its distribution in the non-native range into the Gulf of Cadiz (SW Iberian Peninsula, Europe). Considering the impacts caused by this invasive species in numerous estuarine ecosystems and its generalist feeding behavior, this study aims to provide the first account of the Atlantic blue crab diet on the East Atlantic coast. We studied the species’ feeding habits using stomach content analyses to predict food web interactions and putative impacts. Samples were obtained in the Guadalquivir estuary (SW Spain, Europe), which was colonized in 2017. The main food items identified on their stomach were, fish (49.9%), mollusks (44.4%) and crabs (32.3%). They also consumed plant material (27.2%), and the sediment (32.3%) in their digestive tract was likely the result of secondary ingestion. The Atlantic blue crab exhibited the same omnivorous behavior as in the native area. There was no sexual variation in diet composition or feeding activity in general, but there was a seasonal variation in the diet composition of females. The decrease of the caramote prawn Penaeus kerathurus (Forskål 1775) observed in the Guadalquivir estuary since 2021 is likely not due to the Atlantic blue crab because they seldomly eat this prey. Overall, our study provides clear baseline information to expand the knowledge about the ecological roles of the Atlantic blue crab in non-native ecosystems.

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“…Diet composition of non-indigenous species may help to predict food web interactions (Chaffai et al 2020) and recognise the potential impacts on new invaded areas (Triay-Portella et al 2022). Stomach contents analysis is a universal method for detailed exploration of diet composition and feeding ecology as they allow a reasonably accurate quanti cation of crabs' diet from a full array of habitats (Hyslop 1980;Hines 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding habits of the invasive Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Decapoda, Brachyura, Portunidae) in a temperate European estuary

Ortega-Jiménez

Cuesta

Laiz

et al. 2023

Preprint

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The Atlantic blue crab, native from the east coast of the American continent, is a portunid, estuarine crab that has been recently considered invasive in many areas of the European and African continents, being cited in the Guadalquivir estuary in 2017 for the first time. The feeding habits of the Atlantic blue crab were studied as predictor of food web interactions and potential impacts in the study area. Depending on the availability of food, C. sapidus can adapt to a diverse resource utilization in the Guadalquivir estuary. The main consumed preys were fish, molluscs, and crabs, but they also consumed sediments and vegetation, although in smaller quantities and with a lower frequency. Diet composition was very generalist, and no seasonal or sexual effects were detected. However, diet seems to be more diverse in summer, while in winter blue crabs seem to switch trophic strategies to cannibalism or scavenging on fishing discarded nets. In addition, sexual dimorphism of chela and different spatial distribution seem to diverge the diet composition between males and females during the different sampled seasons. This requires the establishment of many diverse trophic interactions between the Atlantic blue crab and the native food web, which could lead to future impacts on the native community. Consequently, we believe that prey monitoring and control over this non-native species should be considered a priority for the management and conservation of the Guadalquivir estuary. Other methodological approaches as laboratory experiments and feeding habits predictors should be considered as future studies to better describe the trophic behaviour in the whole C. sapidus species.

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Trophic habits of the invasive crab Libinia dubia H. Milne Edwards, 1834 from the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia)

Cited by 3 publications

References 47 publications

Reproductive features of the invasive crab Libinia dubia H. Milne Edwards, 1834 from the Central Mediterranean Sea

Reproductive features of the invasive crab Libinia dubia H. Milne Edwards, 1834 from the Central Mediterranean Sea

Diet of the Invasive Atlantic Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Decapoda, Portunidae) in the Guadalquivir Estuary (Spain)

Feeding habits of the invasive Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Decapoda, Brachyura, Portunidae) in a temperate European estuary

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