Reasons for its success
Competition/Predation:
1. Preyed upon by largemouth bass, white sturgeon, striped bass, eel, pike, brown trout, and large sunfish, loons, river otters, bullfrogs, egrets, and raccoons 2. Mitten crabs are omnivorous with juveniles eat smaller invertebrates and vegetation Adaptations/Reproductive Strategies: 1. Able to walk over small obstacles and have been known to walk down streets in towns during their migrations (migrations have been known to be up to 1500km) 2. Can live very far away from salt water 3. Able to burrow 4. Females can produce from 250,000-1,000,000 eggs at one time 5. Hatch at different times depending on current temperature and salinity levels 6. Able to easily adapt to living in compromised waters, such as polluted water and to be exposed to high levels of metals Environmental Factors: 1. Only crab in North America found in freshwater 2. Can stay in freshwater for 2-5 years before migrating back to estuaries for mating methods of containment and preventionCurrent methods used to contain your invasive species:
1. If you are to catch a Mitten crab; DO NOT THROW IT BACK, take a clear picture of the animal, note the EXACT location where it was found, freeze the animal (keep on ice or use rubbing alcohol as a last resort), and contact the mitten crab hotline 43-482-2222 or email [email protected] 2. Traps are being placed on the upstream side of dams to catch juvenile crabs during upstream migration Current methods used to prevent distribution of invasive species: 1. Illegal to possess, import, or transport Chinese Mitten Crabs in the US 2. Clean all; bait wells, fishing nets, bilge, and other gear before moving to a new destination to prevent accidental distribution Future laws or methods to contain and prevent spreading of your invasive species: Certain US states have started/will start to allow the fishing of Mitten Crabs, with restrictions |
negative effects on ecosystemHow it may be affecting people, health problems:
The mitten crab passes the Oriental lung fluke to humans if the crab is consumed poorly prepared or raw. The Oriental lung fluke is found in crabs, which digest the young rice shoots (Oriental lung fluke is mainly found in China, where rice fields are common). How it may be affecting local fisheries and aquaculture: 1. Mitten Crabs that are caught, in high numbers, by shrimp trawlers end up killing or ruining the catch, meaning it can’t be sold 2. They damage the nets that they are caught in as they try to escape 3. They are very time consuming to remove from nets, and take up precious time that could be used to fish4. The crab’s burrowing habits have caused erosion in dams and river beds Ecological Impact of Species Over time, the growing population of mitten crabs could disturb the native population of invertebrates and in turn disturbing the ecosystems of saltwater, freshwater, and brackish environments, mainly the benthic communities (the communities found on the lowest levels of the particular body of water). Chinese mitten crabs are also found to prey on Sturgeon eggs and juveniles, as well as Salmonid (Sturgeon have become an endangered species). |