Predation by Native Mediterranean Species on the Invasive Blue Crab: Experimental Evidence from the Common Octopus and the Loggerhead Sea Turtle
The rapid spread of the invasive blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) in Mediterranean coastal ecosystems poses ecological and socio-economic challenges, highlighting the need to explore natural control mechanisms. We conducted controlled aquarium experiments to assess the functional size preference and...
| Autores: | , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir |
| Repositorio: | RIUCV. Repositorio de la Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:riucv.ucv.es:20.500.12466/7302 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12466/7302 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Invasive species Callinectes sapidus Predation Loggerhead sea turtle Common octopus Biological control 2510 Oceanografía |
| Sumario: | The rapid spread of the invasive blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) in Mediterranean coastal ecosystems poses ecological and socio-economic challenges, highlighting the need to explore natural control mechanisms. We conducted controlled aquarium experiments to assess the functional size preference and feeding rates of two native Mediterranean predators: the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). Two sets of trials were performed: (1) size preference experiments, in which individual predators were simultaneously offered crabs of varying sizes; and (2) ad libitum feeding experiments to estimate daily consumption rates. Octopuses consumed only the soft tissues biomass (STB, ~54% of total crab biomass), reaching maximum intake rates of 454 ± 71 gWW·d−1 in adult individuals. Sea turtles ingested whole crabs, including the exoskeleton, with total consumption rates up to 815 ± 592 gWW·d−1 of total biomass (TB) in adults. Subadult octopuses exhibited shorter handling times for small crabs, although neither predator showed a statistically significant size preference. Our findings indicate that both predators can consume substantial amounts of blue crab biomass, but O. vulgaris— due to its higher feeding efficiency and ecological abundance—might play a more prominent role as a natural biocontrol agent. These results provide valuable insights for integrated management strategies aimed at mitigating the ecological impact of C. sapidus in the Mediterranean. |
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