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Larval development rate predicts range expansion of an introduced crab

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Abstract

Introduced populations can cause ecological and economic damage and are difficult to eradicate once they have established. It is therefore important to be able to predict both where species may become established and their capacity to spread within recipient regions. Here, we use a new method to assess potential for intraregional spread of a marine crab introduced to North America, Carcinus maenas. We determined survivorship and development rates throughout a range of temperatures in the laboratory for C. maenas larvae from non-native populations on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America. The larvae exhibited narrower physiological tolerances than adults, and no lab-cultured larvae completed larval development below 10.0°C or above 22.5°C. Survivorship peaked at intermediate water temperatures of 12.5–20.0°C, and development time decreased with increasing temperatures within this range. Based upon these laboratory development rates, we used nearshore sea-surface temperature data from both coasts of North America to predict development times required for larvae at different months and sites. Taken together, survivorship and development data indicate that C. maenas has the capacity to continue its northward spread and establish populations at numerous additional sites in North America. Moreover, decadal temperature data at two Alaskan sites predicted little variability in development duration across years, suggesting that development duration predictions are robust to interannual water temperature differences.

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Acknowledgments

Many thanks to the technicians and volunteers who helped culture the larvae and provided additional assistance and ideas: M. Allingham, A. Arnwine, J. Blum, B. Bystry, M. Fenner, T. Fenner, K. Figge, A. Gilborn, E. Gleason, C. Hudson, J. Lawshe, K. Lyles, M. Noble, M. Shimamura, S. Turner, and other members of the Marine Invasions Lab at SERC. A. W. Miller, D. Lipski, and C. Whitcraft assisted with project development. O. Zmora, E. Lipman, and J. Stubblefield of the Center of Marine Biotechnology Baltimore, MD, USA contributed algal and rotifer cultures, culturing supplies, and valuable advice. I. Davidson and others provided excellent editorial advice. Funding was provided by grants to G.M.R. and A.H.H. from the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Sea Grant, and the Smithsonian Institution. The experiments comply with current United States laws.

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Author notes

  1. Sarah J. Teck

    Present address: University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH , 03824, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, 21037-0028, USA

    Catherine E. deRivera, Natasha Gray Hitchcock, Sarah J. Teck, Brian P. Steves, Anson H. Hines & Gregory M. Ruiz

  2. Aquatic Bioinvasions Research and Policy Institute, Portland State University, Portland, OR, 97207-0751, USA

    Catherine E. deRivera

Authors
  1. Catherine E. deRivera
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  2. Natasha Gray Hitchcock
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  3. Sarah J. Teck
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  5. Anson H. Hines
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  6. Gregory M. Ruiz
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Correspondence to Catherine E. deRivera.

Additional information

Communicated by R.J. Thompson, St. John’s.

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deRivera, C.E., Hitchcock, N.G., Teck, S.J. et al. Larval development rate predicts range expansion of an introduced crab. Mar Biol 150, 1275–1288 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-006-0451-9

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