Title:

Crab Activity Influence on Shell Talk: Eastern Oyster Behavioral Response to Interactions with Green Crabs

Predators have a clear impact on prey populations through consumption. In addition, non-consumptive behaviors can affect the behavior and morphology of their prey. Invasive predators such as Green crabs are known to consume sessile organisms, such as Eastern oysters, and have vast impacts on their populations. The impacts of non-consumptive interactions between these two species on oyster’s behavioral responses have not been explored to the same degree as consumptive relationships. The primary behavior exhibited by oysters is gaping, or the opening and closing of the shell, which is essential for their feeding and respiration; however, this behavior can expose them to potential threats such as predation. Understanding both consumptive and non-consumptive influences on oysters is essential because they are an ecologically and economically important species. We assessed the impact of different sensory cues from Green crabs on juvenile Eastern oysters. We hypothesized that Green crab interaction would decrease gaping and tactile would encounter a greater reduction in gaping activity. Oysters’ were monitored every 12 seconds using a sensor system characterizing their behavior over a 58-day experiment. Results suggest that the frequency of oysters gaping increased with greater green crab interaction. Oysters exposed to Green crabs' scent but no physical contact experienced the greatest degree of growth both in weight and length. This study provides insight into how increasing Green crab populations in New England may impact Eastern oysters' behavior. These implications have indirect consequences on coastal protection, water quality, and economic impact derived from oysters.

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