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Blue Crabs. By: Jesse Gore. Blue Crabs. Euryhaline organisms Live in estuaries Have a wide tolerance to changing conditions and can rapidly adapt Found along East Coast Gulf of Mexico Parts of South America Population decline from overfishing. Blue Crabs. Major predators include:
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Blue Crabs By: Jesse Gore
Blue Crabs • Euryhaline organisms • Live in estuaries • Have a wide tolerance to changing conditions and can rapidly adapt • Found along • East Coast • Gulf of Mexico • Parts of South America • Population decline from overfishing
Blue Crabs • Major predators include: • Striped bass, Atlantic croaker, eel • Cannibalism is very common • Prey upon • Bivalves, worms, plants, and dead fish • Each other
Molting Increase in size by discrete steps at ecdysis Warm weather and brackish water optimal “busting stage” Megalopae Juvenile Adult Growth
Migrate up estuaries to mate Migrate down estuaries to spawn Larvae and megalopae live in the ocean Life Cycle
Male crabs: Jimmies Female crabs: She-crabs or Sooks Males vs Females
Catching Blue Crabs • Commercial • Crab pots • Dredges • Otter Trawls • Bait: fish, eel • Recreational • Traps • Dip Nets • Bait: Chicken works great!!
Cooking/Preparation • Steaming • Frying • Soups • Stuffed