There is a species lurking beneath the waters, and researchers are now ringing the warning bells. While this animal may not have razor-sharp teeth or an immense size, it is still wreaking havoc on the ecosystem. The European green crab has firmly established itself in the waters off the Northern Quebec Islands. Now, researchers warn these creatures could continue infesting waters elsewhere as well.
Videos by Outdoors
European Green Crab: The Creatures That Are Infesting Waters
When thinking of species in the sea that could be an issue, crabs are not the first that come to mind. However, any invasive species can pose a threat to an ecosystem, and that is just what the European green crab has become. Yahoo News shared that “The European green crab was initially detected off the Magdalen Islands in 2004.”
Later, in 2023, its numbers exploded, and its population rose dramatically. The warmer waters throughout the Gulf proved to be a very beneficial enviornment for the creatures infestings the waters. Piero Calosi, a biology professor at the University of Quebec, studies organisms and how they adapt to their environment. He began studying the European green crab and its population growth.
While he and others expected them to thrive and expand, the rate at which they did so was surprising. When speaking ot CBC, he said, “We expected the change, but we didn’t expect the change to be so rapid.” Additionally, he mentioned that “Once an invasive species has arrived and the conditions are good, eradication is almost impossible.”
Why Care That These Creatures Are Infesting Waters
So the European green crab has taken over some waters. What is the big deal? Well, the big deal is that this invasive species “prey on around 150 types of marine life,” according to CBC News. Having a creature with such a widespread appetite greatly threatens the balance of the coastal ecosystem they now call home.
In addition to feasting on many other creatures, these crabs are also “tearing up underwater seagrass habitat.” That seagrass acts as a breeding ground for many marine creatures as well as a place for them to find food. Destroying them also greatly impacts the marine ecosystem.
Invasive species always compete with native ones and often create a struggle for food and habitat. The effects of such an encounter can be drastic.
