Crustaceans are key components of marine ecosystems which, like other exploited marine taxa, show seasonable patterns of distribution and activity, with consequences for their availability to capture by targeted fisheries. Despite concerns over the sustainability of crab fisheries worldwide, difficulties in observing crabs' behaviour over their annual cycles, and the timings and durations of re...

The present study examined the metabolic pathways of pyrene in dungeness crabs (Cancer magister) in the laboratory and the potential of using synchronous fluorescence spectrometry (SFS) to determine pyrene metabolite concentrations in the hemolymph of crabs exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the field. Pyrene was metabolized by crabs mainly to 1-hydroxypyrene and pyrene-1-glu...

The current study was conducted to determine the LC(50) value of ammonia-N as well as the effects of acute exposure to elevated ammonia on the haemolymph osmolality, ionic composition, ammonia-N and pH levels of early juvenile mud crabs, Scylla serrata. The results show that early S. serrata juveniles have a high 96-h LC(50) value of 95.35 mg/L ammonia-N (6.81 mg/L NH(3)-N) or 6.80 mmol/L total...

Brackish water crabs infected with Paragonimus ohirai metacercariae have been reported in various regions in Japan. However, infected crabs have not been identified in Tokyo. We therefore collected the crab, Chiromantes dehaani, between August 2002 and July 2003 from 12 locations along the Arakawa River that flows through Tokyo. Of the 922 captured crabs, 177 (19%) from 6 locations were infecte...

Objective: The potential of marine crabs as a source of bioactive products is largely unexplored. Methods: Portunussegnis crabs were collected from the northern coast of Persian Gulf. Antimicrobial activities of hepatopancreas, hemolymph and proteins of hemplymph from P. segnis crabs against a range of 11 different bacterial and 6 fungal pathogen strains were examined. Two positive controls Amo...

We examined sand crabs (Lepidopa benedicti) for endoparasites, and found the only parasite consistently infecting the studied population were small nematodes. Because many nematodes have complex life cycles involving multiple hosts, often strongly manipulating their hosts, we hypothesized that nematodes alter the behavior of their sand crab hosts. We predicted that more heavily infected crabs w...

Soft-shell crabs are famous in seafood restaurants because they have a wonderful flavor, easy to eat, and highly nutritious! any regular edible crabs, but their natural, soft-shell condition—because just shed old shells, an event called molting. Within few hours after molting, while still condition, these harvested sold as crabs. Crabs the condition higher market value than hard-shell condition...

The suspension-feeding slippersnail Crepidula convexa is commonly associated with hermit crabs (Pagurus longicarpus) living in periwinkle shells (Littorina littorea) at our study site in Nahant, MA, USA. In 15 field surveys conducted at Nahant in 2000, 2001 and 2003, we found that (1) more than 61.8% of individuals of C. convexa resided on shells occupied by hermit crabs, as opposed to the shel...

To discern the position of horseshoe crabs as a potentially important predator in estuarine food webs, we determined where they foraged and what they ate. We used N and C stable isotopes to link adult horseshoe crabs to their foraging locations and potential food sources in Pleasant Bay, Cape Cod. The dN in tissues of horseshoe crabs and their potential foods suggest crabs were loyal to local f...