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A life history model for the San Francisco Estuary population of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis (Decapoda: Grapsoidea)

Biological Invasions volume 7, pages 333–350 (2005)Cite this article

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Abstract

First discovered in San Francisco Bay in 1992, the Chinese mitten crab,Eriocheir sinensis, has become established over hundreds of km2 of the San Francisco Estuary. Ecological and economic impacts of this invasive species motivated our search for a greater understanding of the crab’s life history as an important step in better management and control. Data for this life history model comes from the authors’ research and scientific literature. Juvenile crabs migrate from the Estuary into fresh water where they develop into adults. Environmental signals may stimulate gonad development that is followed by a downstream migration beginning at the end of summer. Mating occurs after the crabs reach saline water. Embryos are carried until hatching, and the larvae undergo five zoeal stages before settlement. Our model projects rates of development at various temperatures and growth increments, supports a minimum of 2 years in low salinity or freshwater habitat, and predicts that most California mitten crabs are at least 3 years old before becoming sexually mature. Environmental factors strongly influence the timing and duration of the crab’s life stages, and are discussed in the context of a gradient of development times for worldwide populations of this important invasive species.

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Author notes

  1. Deborah Rudnick

    Present address: Deborah Rudnick, 10,000 Years Institute, Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, Berkeley, California, USA

    Deborah Rudnick

  2. California Department of Water Resources, Sacramento, California, USA

    Tanya Veldhuizen

  3. California State University, Hayward, California, USA

    Richard Tullis

  4. University of California at Santa Barbara, California, USA

    Carolyn Culver

  5. California Department of Fish and Game, Stockton, California, USA

    Kathryn Hieb

  6. Department of Biology, California State University (CSU) , Fresno, California, USA

    Brian Tsukimura

Authors
  1. Deborah Rudnick
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  2. Tanya Veldhuizen
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  3. Richard Tullis
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  4. Carolyn Culver
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  5. Kathryn Hieb
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  6. Brian Tsukimura
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brian Tsukimura.

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Rudnick, D., Veldhuizen, T., Tullis, R. et al. A life history model for the San Francisco Estuary population of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis (Decapoda: Grapsoidea). Biol Invasions 7, 333–350 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-004-2286-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-004-2286-y

Keywords

  • catadromous
  • Chinese mitten crab
  • crustacea
  • Eriocheir
  • estuary
  • invasive
  • life history model
  • San Francisco Bay