Diet of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) during range expansion in Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire

Abstract Great Bay Estuary (GBE), within the rapidly warming Gulf of Maine, has experienced significant ecological shifts this century due to naturalization of invasive species. The range expansion of the American blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) currently underway from the mid-Atlantic northward bri...

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Main Authors: Kelsey A. Meyer-Rust, Alyssa Strickland, Bo-Young Lee, Joseph L. Sevigny, Gabriela Bradt, Bonnie L. Brown
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Genomics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-024-10907-w
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author Kelsey A. Meyer-Rust
Alyssa Strickland
Bo-Young Lee
Joseph L. Sevigny
Gabriela Bradt
Bonnie L. Brown
author_facet Kelsey A. Meyer-Rust
Alyssa Strickland
Bo-Young Lee
Joseph L. Sevigny
Gabriela Bradt
Bonnie L. Brown
author_sort Kelsey A. Meyer-Rust
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Great Bay Estuary (GBE), within the rapidly warming Gulf of Maine, has experienced significant ecological shifts this century due to naturalization of invasive species. The range expansion of the American blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) currently underway from the mid-Atlantic northward brings the possibility of similar ecological shifts. This study accounts recent trapping and diet analysis of C. sapidus in GBE. Diet is an important component of understanding how the blue crab range expansion may affect GBE ecosystem functions. Across all sites and trap types, 27 blue crabs were captured. Metagenomic analysis of shotgun sequencing techniques were used on the gut contents of blue crabs captured. Most specimens had > 50% Eukaryote sequences. Overall results of this gut content study confirm a mixed diet indicative of an opportunistic feeder. Using metagenomics to analyze the diet of blue crabs as they establish viable populations in GBE will be a useful tool for predicting how these range expanding organisms are interacting within this important estuarine ecosystem, which will promote sustainable development by informing end users who may be affected by these crabs to help them meet their needs in the present and future. This project falls within Global Goal SDG14: Life Below Water.
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issn 1471-2164
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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series BMC Genomics
spelling doaj-art-f276cdc9927e4e5594f81e13e34cceb82024-12-29T12:10:55ZengBMCBMC Genomics1471-21642024-12-0125111010.1186/s12864-024-10907-wDiet of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) during range expansion in Great Bay Estuary, New HampshireKelsey A. Meyer-Rust0Alyssa Strickland1Bo-Young Lee2Joseph L. Sevigny3Gabriela Bradt4Bonnie L. Brown5Department of Biological Sciences, Ecological Genetics Laboratory, University of New HampshireDepartment of Biological Sciences, Ecological Genetics Laboratory, University of New HampshireDepartment of Biological Sciences, Ecological Genetics Laboratory, University of New HampshireDepartment of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Hubbard Center for Genomic StudiesNew Hampshire Sea GrantDepartment of Biological Sciences, Ecological Genetics Laboratory, University of New HampshireAbstract Great Bay Estuary (GBE), within the rapidly warming Gulf of Maine, has experienced significant ecological shifts this century due to naturalization of invasive species. The range expansion of the American blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) currently underway from the mid-Atlantic northward brings the possibility of similar ecological shifts. This study accounts recent trapping and diet analysis of C. sapidus in GBE. Diet is an important component of understanding how the blue crab range expansion may affect GBE ecosystem functions. Across all sites and trap types, 27 blue crabs were captured. Metagenomic analysis of shotgun sequencing techniques were used on the gut contents of blue crabs captured. Most specimens had > 50% Eukaryote sequences. Overall results of this gut content study confirm a mixed diet indicative of an opportunistic feeder. Using metagenomics to analyze the diet of blue crabs as they establish viable populations in GBE will be a useful tool for predicting how these range expanding organisms are interacting within this important estuarine ecosystem, which will promote sustainable development by informing end users who may be affected by these crabs to help them meet their needs in the present and future. This project falls within Global Goal SDG14: Life Below Water.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-024-10907-wRange expansionAmerican blue crabCallinectes sapidusMetagenomicsGreat Bay EstuaryGulf of Maine
spellingShingle Kelsey A. Meyer-Rust
Alyssa Strickland
Bo-Young Lee
Joseph L. Sevigny
Gabriela Bradt
Bonnie L. Brown
Diet of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) during range expansion in Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire
BMC Genomics
Range expansion
American blue crab
Callinectes sapidus
Metagenomics
Great Bay Estuary
Gulf of Maine
title Diet of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) during range expansion in Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire
title_full Diet of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) during range expansion in Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire
title_fullStr Diet of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) during range expansion in Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire
title_full_unstemmed Diet of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) during range expansion in Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire
title_short Diet of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) during range expansion in Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire
title_sort diet of the blue crab callinectes sapidus during range expansion in great bay estuary new hampshire
topic Range expansion
American blue crab
Callinectes sapidus
Metagenomics
Great Bay Estuary
Gulf of Maine
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-024-10907-w
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