European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas)

1. European Green Crab(Carcinus maenas) By:

2. Other Names of the European Green Crab • Scientific- Carcinus maenas • Common- European green crab, shore crab, European shore crab • Kingdom- Animalia • Phylum- Arthropoda • Subphylum- Crustacea • Class- Malacostarca

3. Characteristics • 6 to 10cm (4in.) long • 2 eyes that stick up like sticks • 2 short antennae next to eyes • 9 pairs of gills • 2 large claws • 8 legs (10 including claws) • Younger crabs- olive green

4. Characteristics • Older crabs- after molting cycle, spotty green & black to orange then red • 5 short spines on both sided of hard shell • Lifespan- 5 years

5. Distribution • Native to Europe • Across Atlantic Ocean in ballast water on hull of ships • Also found in packing materials & migration on surface currents • East Coast- 1817 • West Coast- 1980s

6. From 1817-2004 the European Green Crab Could Be Found In: • Australia • Sri Lanka • South Africa • Along Atlantic and Pacific Coasts of N.A.- Mass., Maine, R.I., N.Y., N.J., Del., Calif., Wash. • Green crab isn’t currently affecting I.A. Atlantic Coast Pacific Coast Red is where the green crab can be found

7. What Does The Green Crab Eat? • Soft-shell clams • Shellfish • Scallops • Jellyfish • Shrimp • Fish • Worms • 3 in. adult can eat 40 clams daily Soft-shell clams Shellfish

8. Effects on People & Native Species • Crabs kill native marine wildlife • Disrupt food chain • Clog water pipes • Negative effects on soft-shell clams, young oysters & other native crabs • Led to destruction of soft-shell clam fisheries in New England

9. Effects on Ecosystems • Green crab had fatal run-in with Hemigrapsus sargineus (Asian shore crab) • Organisms that have been effected by crab: soft-shell clams, native crabs, young oysters- population has gone down Asian shore crab (Hemigrapsus sargineus )

10. Reasons for Success • Sharp teeth on claws allow green crab to rip its food apart • Lots of food sources to choose from • Mating occurs year-round • Females can breed 3 times per year • Females can produce up to 200,000 eggs each time

11. Issues For the Future • Solutions & Problems for green crab issue: • Solution: Importing Asian shore crab (Hemigrapsus sargineus), the green crab’s enemy/predator Problem: may replace green crab as problem • Solution: Putting parasitic barnacle (Sacculina carcini) where crabs are- parasite makes it so green crab can’t reproduce (sterilize them) Problem: could cause risk to native marine animals

12. Issues For the Future Another solution & problem for green crab issue: • Solution: Put rats & raccoons where crab is overpopulated (predators of green crab) Problem: may cause crab to die out completely (extinction)

13. Bibliographies • "Green Crab." Encyclopedia of Animals. 2006. EBSCO. Harding Middle School, Cedar Rapids. 24 Apr. 2008. • "Aquatic Species." United States Department of Agricultural Library. 21 Apr. 2008. National Invasive Species Information Center. 21 Apr. 2008 <http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/greencrab.shtml>. • "It's a Crab-Eat-Crab World Out There." Toronto Star 27 Oct. 2007. Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Harding IMC, Cedar Rapids. 21 Apr. 2008. • Raloff, J. "European Crab Leaps to Pacific Prominence." Scientific News 13 June 1998. Article. EBSCO. Harding IMC, Cedar Rapids. 21 Apr. 2008. • "EPA Loses Suit on Ballast Water." San Jose Mercury News 1 Apr. 2005. Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Harding IMC, Cedar Rapids. 22 Apr. 2008. • "Carcinus Maenas." Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia. 23 Mar. 2008. Wikipedia Foundation. 23 Apr. 2008 <http;//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_green_crab>.

14. Bibliographies • Matthew S., and Brandt K. "Africa Invaded: European Green Crab." Invasive Species Information. 2008. The Global Invasive Species Programme. 30 Apr. 2008 <http://www.gisp.org/casestudies/showcasestudy.asp?id=73&MyMenuItem=casestudies&worldmap=&country=>. • Pictures: Google, Images, Type in: European green crab, Asian shore crab, water pipe, shellfish, soft-shell clam.