Is the population increase of an invasive portunid crab (Charbydis hellerii) a concern? The effect on native prey

Autor(es)

Izar, G. M. ; de Oliveira, Diogo Nunes ; Laurino, Ivan Rodrigo Abrao ; Zara, Fernando Jose ; Christofoletti, Ronaldo Adriano

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE; v. 282, p. 8-pg., 2023-02-03.

Resumo

Biological invasions have the potential to change the local marine biodiversity through increasing predation pressure and interactions among species. Charybdis hellerii is a swimming crab native to the Indo-West Pacific, it was first collected in the Atlantic Ocean in 1987 and is currently found in high abundance in coastal areas of southeastern Brazil. We evaluated the presence of the invasive crab C. hellerii from the coast of Sa & SIM;o Paulo state, Brazil, analyzing the stomach contents and performing laboratory-based feeding experiments. In crabs with stomachs full enough to be analyzed (N = 19), mussels (30%) and brachyuran crabs (14.21%) were the most frequent prey items found. Based on these data, we experimentally tested how different densities and life stages (adults and juveniles - differentiated by carapace width - CW) of the invasive crab affected feeding patterns. Results indicated that predator density effects on the predation pressure were dependent on the prey type. Mussels were consumed highest at medium predator densities (30 crabs/m3), whereas crabs were consumed highest at high predator densities (60 crabs/m3). There was no influence of the life stage on prey consumption, suggesting that adults (CW = 57.12-67.59 mm) and juveniles (CW = 39.77-43.18 mm) exhibit similar predation. Charybdis hellerii is an important consumer of benthic native prey, having the potential to change food webs through predation pressure on bioengineers and associated fauna. As the removal of C. hellerii from the environment is difficult, the next step toward is to understand the effect of the invasive crab on the native trophic web. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 07/58436-8 - Diversidade de predadores e herbívoros ágeis do entremarres de costões rochosos e o efeito do ciclo das marés
• Beneficiário: Diogo Nunes de Oliveira
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica
• Processo FAPESP: 05/04707-5 - Histologia e ultrassonografia do desenvolvimento das gônadas de Brachyura (Crustacea)
• Beneficiário: Fernando Jose Zara
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Jovens Pesquisadores
• Processo FAPESP: 10/50188-8 - Crustáceos decápodes: multidisciplinaridade na caracterização da biodiversidade marinha do estado de São Paulo (taxonomia, espermiotaxonomia, biologia molecular e dinâmica populacional) (Biodiversidade Marinha)
• Beneficiário: Fernando Luis Medina Mantelatto
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa BIOTA - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 06/00559-4 - Ecologia trófica do caranguejo Pachygrapsus transversus (Gibbes, 1850) (Brachyura: Grapsidae) e sua influência nas comunidades sésseis dos costões rochosos da região de Ubatuba, SP
• Beneficiário: Ronaldo Adriano Christofoletti
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado