Physiological and behavioral response of the Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus , to salinity: implications for estuarine distribution and invasion

• Published in: PeerJ (San Francisco, CA) Vol. 6; p. e5446
• Main Authors: Hudson, David M, Sexton, D Joseph, Wint, Dinsdale, Capizzano, Connor, Crivello, Joseph F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States PeerJ, Inc 14.08.2018; PeerJ Inc
• Subjects: Acclimation; Animal behavior; Biochemistry; Biogeography; Biological Oceanography; Biology; Colonization; Competitiveness; Crustacean; Crustaceans; Estuaries; Hemigrapsus; Hemigrapsus sanguineus; Hemolymph; Invasive species; Invasiveness; Marine Biology; Neurosciences; Physiology; Preferences; Salinity; Salinity effects; Salinity tolerance; Success; Survival; Survival analysis; Survival curve; Zoology; United States > US; Georgia; Invasive species; Salinity tolerance; Invasiveness; Crustacean; Hemigrapsus; Survival curve
• ISSN: 2167-8359; 2167-8359
• DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5446

The invasive Asian shore crab, , is ubiquitous in the rocky intertidal zone of the western North Atlantic. A likely contributor to this colonization is that is able to handle a wide range of salinities, and is thus more likely to spread through a greater geographic area of estuaries. This study investigated the salinity effects on this animal by observing survival across a range of salinities, the maintenance of hemolymph osmolality under different salinities, and behavioral preference for and avoidance of salinities. showed high survival across a broad range of salinities, had little change in hemolymph osmolality over a short-term salinity shock, and behaviorally distinguished between salinities when presented with a choice, under both acclimation salinities of 5 PSU or 35 PSU. Such results suggest has a hardiness for the rapid changes in salinity that happen in the intertidal zone, yet is capable of physically moving to a more optimal salinity. This enhances their competitiveness as an invader, particularly surviving lower salinities that present challenges during high-precipitation events in rocky intertidal areas, and partially explains this species' dominance in this habitat type.