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Predation By The Oyster Toadfish Opsanus tau (Linnaeus) On Blue Crabs And Mud Crabs, Predators Of The Hard Clam Mercenaria mercenaria (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bisker, Robert Gibbons, Mary Castagna, Michael
Bisker, Robert
Gibbons, Mary
Castagna, Michael
Abstract
The oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau (Linne), reduces predation by xanthid and portunid crabs on juvenile hard clams, Mercenaria mercenaria (Linne), in field cultures. This study examined the influence of size and species on the predator-prey relationship between toadfish and crabs. The mud crabs Eurypanopeus depressus (Smith), Neopanope sayi (Smith), and Panopeus herbstii Milne Edwards of 5-40 mm carapace width and blue crabs Callinectes sapidus Rathbun of 77-105 mm carapace width were offered to toadfish of 70-322 mm total length. Toadfish predation rates on mud crabs were higher with increasing toadfish size and lower with increasing crab size. Toadfish injured or killed mud crabs that were one tenth of their total length or approximately one half of their mouth width. Predation of juvenile hard clams by blue crabs was reduced when toadfish were present.
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1989
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1525_BISKER1989.pdf
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ESL Publications, predation, toadfish, Opsanus, crabs, hard clams, Mercenaria
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Virginia Institute of Marine Science