Invasive green crab, Carcinus maenas, on the Atlantic coast and in the Bras d'Or Lakes of Nova Scotia, Canada: larval supply and recruitment

Abstract

Patterns in larval supply and recruitment of the invasive European green crab, Carcinus maenas, were examined at two sites in Nova Scotia, Canada: a typical Atlantic coastal site with high salinity (∼33) and strong tidal signal (Terence Bay); and a microtidal site in the Bras d'Or Lakes, where surface salinity fluctuated from 0 to 23 (Benacadie Pond). Abundance of all life history stages (zoeae, megalopae, juveniles and ovigerous females) was sampled approximately biweekly at each site from June 2001 to June 2002. The reproductive season, based on the presence of ovigerous females, is ∼5 months (June to October) at both sites. Zoeae-I were collected from June to July 2001 and in June 2002 at Terence Bay, and from June to August 2001 at Benacadie Pond. We did not collect later zoeal stages at either site. Megalopae were collected from September to October 2001 at Terence Bay, and from August to September 2001 at Benacadie Pond. Juveniles 1–6 mm carapace width (CW) were present throughout the summer at Terence Bay, and only in autumn at Benacadie. Juveniles 6–12 and 12–27 mm CW were present throughout the summer and autumn at both sites. At Terence Bay, densities of 1–6 and 12–27 mm CW juveniles did not vary among intertidal zones. In contrast, the 6–12 mm CW size-class appeared to move higher in the intertidal through the season, possibly due to effects of predation.