Page:Green Crabs NPS.pdf/1





The green crab, Carcinus maenas, is native to Europe. It has become a prominent component of shallow marine and estuarine waters of the northwest Atlantic and many other locations around the world. Green crabs can reach >100 mm width (approximately 4 inches) and are notorious for their high shellfish consumption rates. Nevertheless, they have generalist, opportunistic diets that can affect the structure of the surrounding communities. Green crabs have wide tolerance for salinities and water temperature and can adapt quickly to a new environment as long as its basic habitat requirements are met.



Recent research at Cape Cod National Seashore indicates that the green crabs found in East Harbor have very wide diets and that