Mechanical and behavioral aspects of blue crab, Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun), predation on Chesapeake Bay bivalves
In: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. Elsevier: New York. ISSN 0022-0981; e-ISSN 1879-1697, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Blundon, J.A.
- Kennedy, V.S.
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| Abstract |
Forces required to crack shells of eight bivalve species were determined and compared to the crushing strength of blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun) chelae. Only large (>40 mm) wedge clams, Rangia cuneata (Gray), had shells strong enough to resist the crushing capabilities of large blue crabs as measured in the laboratory. Shell strengths of the other seven bivalve species were within or below the range of maximum forces generated by blue crabs of the sizes tested. Failure loads of four regions of the shell of the soft clam, Mya arenaria L., showed that the umbo region was significantly stronger than any other shell region. In laboratory feeding studies, blue crabs generally showed no size-selective or species-selective feeding behavior. We propose that, with regard to infaunal bivalves, actual crab diet is a function both of prey shell strength relative to predator strength and of prey availability. |
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