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On the diet of the invasive crab Charybdis longicollis Leene, 1938 (Brachyura: Portunidae) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea
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Scientists documented the diet of an invasive Mediterranean crab and found microplastics in a quarter of the individuals examined, indicating these crustaceans inadvertently ingest plastic while foraging on the seafloor. The study contributes to understanding both the ecological role of this invasive species and the spread of microplastic contamination through benthic food webs.
We present the first results on the diet of the invasive portunid crab Charybdis longicollis in the eastern Mediterranean. No differences were found between sexes, seasons, class size or infection by the rhizocephalan Heterosaccus dollfusi . Size differences were noted between crabs collected at different depths, with larger specimens at shallower sites, as well as significant interaction between sex and infection factors, with males more parasitized than females. Sex has had no bearing on food items. No significant impacts were observed of seasons, depth, class size, sex and infection on stomach fullness. Charybdis longicollis is benthophagic, with preference for infaunal and slow moving prey, as attested by the notable amount of sediment in their stomachs; the most frequent food items were molluscs, crustaceans and fish, similar to congeners. Microplastics were detected in a quarter of the specimens examined. Since the species is extremely abundant in the Levantine littoral and sublittoral, it is likely to impact the local biota.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.