Ecophysiology of the European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas) and Related Species Mechanisms Behind the Success of a Global Invader

About this book

Ecophysiology of the Green Shore Crab (Carcinus maenas) and Related Species: Mechanisms Behind the Success of a Global Invader provides an in-depth perspective of this devastatingly invasive coastal species. During the last 175 years, Carcinus maenas has spread around the globe through human activities. Because of its ability to flourish in a wide variety of ecosystems and outcompete native species, it has been listed as one of the top 100 worst global invaders. Written by international experts, this book focuses on Carcinus maenas and discusses other brachyurans with similar physiologies as comparisons, including control systems and mechanisms used. This book serves as a valuable resource for researchers in marine biology and invasive biology, as well as for university lecturers, and government or environmental agencies.

Contents

1. Carcinus maenas and its impact on the indigenous culture in North America
2. The secret success of Carcinus maenas as an invasive species
3. The cardiorespiratory system
4. The gastrointestinal system
5. The sensory system - Neurophysiology
6. The endocrine system
7. The excretory system
8. Molting and Ca²⁺ transportation and reproduction
9. Hypoxia and emersion
10. Thermophysiology
11. Salinity and osmoregulation
12. Ecotoxicology and response to pollutants
13. Carcinus maenas and climate change

Customer Reviews

Biography

Dr Dirk Weihrauch is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He received his PhD in Biology from the University of Hamburg in Germany. Dr Weihrauch has co-authored two books and numerous scholarly articles. Currently, he serves as Associate Editor for Experimental Marine Biology and Ecophysiology and as a Review Editor for Frontiers in Aquatic Physiology.

Dr Iain McGaw is a Professor in the Department of Ocean Sciences at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada. He received his PhD in Marine Biology from the University of Wales-Bangor. Dr McGaw has contributed to over 100 scholarly articles on crabs and intertidal species and currently serves as a reviewer for over 40 journals and research grant foundations.