A life history model for the San Francisco Estuary population of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis (Decapoda: Grapsoidea)

Abstract

First discovered in San Francisco Bay in 1992, the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, has become established over hundreds of km 2 of the San Francisco Estuary. Ecological and economic impacts of this invasive species motivated our search for a greater understanding of the crab's life history as an important step in better management and control. Data for this life history model comes from the authors' research and scientific literature. Juvenile crabs migrate from the Estuary into fresh water where they develop into adults. Environmental signals may stimulate gonad development that is followed by a downstream migration beginning at the end of summer. Mating occurs after the crabs reach saline water. Embryos are carried until hatching, and the larvae undergo five zoeal stages before settlement. Our model projects rates of development at various temperatures and growth increments, supports a minimum of 2 years in low salinity or freshwater habitat, and predicts that most California mitten crabs are at least 3 years old before becoming sexually mature. Environmental factors strongly influence the timing and duration of the crab's life stages, and are discussed in the context of a gradient of development times for worldwide populations of this important invasive species.

Contributions of larval biology to crustacean research: a review

“…For invading species with complex life cycles, the larval phase is crucial not only for the establishment and persistence of new populations, but also for range extensions within recipient regions. This has been suggested, for example, for the spread of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, in Europe (Clark et al, 1998b;Herborg et al, 2003) and along the west coast of the USA (Rudnick et al, 2005). Invasions by the European shore crab, Carcinus maenas, in Australia (Thresher et al, 2003) and on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America are based on similar mechanisms (Carlton and Cohen, 2003;Behrens Yamada et al, 2005;Cameron and Metaxas, 2005).…”

Osmoregulation and immunolocalization of Na+/K+-ATPase during the ontogeny of the mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis (Decapoda, Grapsoidea)

“…These patterns are closely related to reproductive and ontogenetic migrations in this species. The complex life cycle of E. sinensis includes a long period (about 4 to 5 yr) of juvenile growth in freshwater, catadromous female migrations associated with mating and spawning in the upper parts of estuaries, followed by breeding and hatching in estuarine or brackish near-shore waters (Anger 1991, Rudnick et al 2005. The early larvae are subsequently transported towards coastal marine waters, most probably using outflowing surface currents, so that later development takes place at higher salinities.…”

“…E. sinensis has received much attention also as an invasive species. Originating from Southeast Asia, it has spread to Europe and North America (Panning 1938, for recent review see Herborg et al 2003, Rudnick et al 2005. Its successful dispersal in brackish coastal lagoons, rivers, and land-locked inland waters is based on its capability to cope equally well with freshwater, brackish water, or seawater (termed holo-euryhalinity; Kinne 1971).…”

Effects of reduced salinities on metamorphosis of a freshwater-tolerant sesarmid crab, Armases roberti: Is upstream migration in the megalopa stage constrained by increasing osmotic stress?

“…In some species, e.g. in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus (Forward and Tankersley, 2001), or in the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis (Rudnick et al, 2005), this "export strategy" (Strathmann, 1982) includes downstream migrations of the ovigerous females, which mitigate the exposure of newly hatched larvae to hypo-osmotic stress. Other species release their planktonic larvae into the habitat of the adult population, from where they are rapidly transported downstream by outflowing surface currents (for recent review, see Queiroga and Blanton, 2004).…”