Invasion
Invasion Description
1st Record: St. Mary/FL (2004, Kruse and Hare 2007)
Geographic Extent
St. Mary/FL (2004, Kruse and Hare 2007)
Vectors
| Level | Vector |
|---|---|
| Alternate | Hull Fouling |
| Alternate | Oyster Accidental |
Regional Impacts
| Ecological Impact | Parasitism | |
| In southeast US estuaries, Loxothylacus panopaei is an abundant parasite of three species of panopeid crabs: Dyspanopeus sayi (Say's Mud Crab), Eurypanopeus depressus (Flatback Mud Crab), and Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Harris mud crab). As of 1983-86, its prevalence was greater on the last two species (Hines et al. 1997). Parasitism - The effects of L. panopaei on individual crabs are complex and diverse. The major impact is that both male and female infected crabs are castrated and unable to reproduce (Gissler 1884; Barnes 1983; Gould 1996), so that all of the host's feeding activity serves to support reproduction of the parasite. In order to maintain itself on a crab, L. panopaei extensively modifies the host's physiology and behavior. Details of the mechanisms are given in the "General Impacts" summary for this species. In 2004, 54% of 24 Eurypanopeus depressus collected in St. Marys River were parasitized (Kruse and Hare 2007). | ||