Meet the Scientist: When Blue Crabs and Green Crabs Collide

The European green crab (Carcinus maenas) invaded the Gulf of Maine over 100 years ago, and has had negative impacts on local ecosystems ever since, from preying on native species to degrading salt marshes. In more recent years, the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus)--a species that forms a lucrative fishery in the Chesapeake Bay and Louisiana--has expanded its range northward into the Gulf of Maine. Both crab species are omnivorous predators and strong competitors, raising the question of how these two species will interact with one another. Who will be the stronger competitor? Will one crab species prey on the other? Will blue crabs help to control the green crab population?

These are the questions researchers at the Wells Reserve are seeking to answer through field monitoring and laboratory experiments. Join Research Associate Laura Crane to learn about her ongoing research aimed at better understanding the extent and implications of blue crab range expansion into the Gulf of Maine.