The American blue crabCallinectes sapidus Rathbun on the German North Sea coast: Status quo and further perspectives

  • Stefan Nehring
  • Gabriele Speckels
  • Jörg Albersmeyer
Article
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Abstract

Live specimens of the American blue crabCallinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) were found in the German North Sea estuaries of Elbe and Weser in 1964, ca. 1965, ca. 1990, 1998 and 2007. Due to these infrequent records the potentially invasiveC. sapidus is considered a non established alien species in German waters until now. Climate warming might facilitate the establishment, increasing stocks and subsequent spread of blue crabs in European waters. An early detection of alien species is essential for taking rapid measures at the earliest stage of establishment or spread. ‘First finders’ such as fishermen should be integrated as key-component in an early warning system of an alien observation concept. To verify records of new alien species, proper documentation of finding, specimen identification by reliable taxonomists and depositing of confirmed voucher specimens are essential.

Keywords

alien Blue crab shipping Wadden Sea estuary climate warming management 

Die amerikanische BlaukrabbeCallinectes sapidus Rathbun an der deutschen Nordseeküste: Status quo and weitere Perspektiven

Kurzfassung

Lebende Individuen der amerikanischen BlaukrabbeCallinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Crustacea: Dekapoda: Brachyura) wurden 1964, um 1965, um 1990, 1998 und 2007 in den deutschen Nordseeästuarien von Elbe und Weser gefunden. Auf Grund dieser unregelmäßigen Nachweise wird die potentiell invasiveC. sapidus als bisher nicht etablierte gebietsfremde Art in den deutschen Gewässern angesehen. Die Klimaerwärmung wird wahrscheinlich wesentlich zur Etablierung, zur Zunahme der Bestände und zur nachfolgenden Ausbreitung von Blaukrabben in europäischen Gewässern beitragen. Eine Früherkennung von gebietsfremden Arten ist wesentlich für die Umsetzung von Sofortmaßnahmen während der frühesten Phase der Etablierung oder Ausbreitung. ‚Erstfinder‘ wie Berufsfischer sollten als Schlüsselkomponente in einem Frühwarnsystem innerhalb eines Überwachungskonzepts für gebietsfremde Arten integriert werden. Um Meldungen von neuen gebietsfremden Arten zu verifizieren, sind eine angemessene Dokumentation des Fundes, eine Identifikation von Individuen durch ausgewiesene Taxonomen und Hinterlegung von überprüften Belegexemplaren wesentlich.

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Copyright information

© E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung 2008

Authors and Affiliations

  • Stefan Nehring
    • 1
  • Gabriele Speckels
    • 2
  • Jörg Albersmeyer
    • 2
  1. 1.AeT UmweltplanungKoblenzGermany
  2. 2.Nationalparkhaus Museum ButjadingenFedderwardersielGermany

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