Nonindigenous Crustaceans

Nonindigenous Crustacean Distribution Information

Crustaceans (Phylum Arthropoda, Class Crustacea) are found in marine, brackish and fresh waters. Common methods of introduction include ballast water discharge, intentional release as forage for sport fish, and accidental release from aquaculture facilities. Potential impacts include competition with, and predation on, native species. The opossum shrimp, Mysis relicta, was first introduced into Kootenay Lake, British Columbia, in 1949 and was widely stocked as a forage food for sport fish in the West. It is an opportunistic feeder with both predatorial and filter feeding habits. Dramatic changes in native zooplankton communities, including species extinctions, have been observed after opossum shrimp were introduced. After the introduction of the opossum shrimp into Flathead Lake, Montana, Daphnia longiremis and Leptodora kindti were reduced to undetectable levels while Diaptomus ashlandi declined more than 75% from previous levels.

We welcome any contributions or comments you may have.

NEWS!

Asian Shore Crab Summary and Fact Sheet
Freshwater Crab Found in Nevada (8/00)

Maps

Mysis relicta (oppossum shrimp)

Daphnia lumholtzi (water flea)

Cercopagis pengoi (Cercopagis)

Crayfish distribution maps

Shrimp distribution maps

Species Information

Mysis relicta (oppossum shrimp)

Daphnia lumholtzi (water flea)

Charbybdis hellerii (Portunid crab) (Gulf of Mexico Program)

Eriocheir sinensis (Chinese mitten crab) (Gulf of Mexico Program)

Litopenaeus vannamei (Pacific white shrimp) (Gulf of Mexico Program)

Penaeus monodon (jumbo tiger prawn) (Gulf of Mexico Program)

Scylla serrata (serrated swimming crab) (Gulf of Mexico Program)

Carcinus maenus (green crab) (WA Dept. Fish & Wildl.)

Platychirograpsus spectabilis (Saber crab) (Gulf of Mexico Program)

Macrobrachium olfersii (Bristled river shrimp) (Gulf of Mexico Program)

Data Queries and Species Lists

**Links to Other Sites**
Copepods in the Great Lakes (USGS) Daphnia lumholtzi in the Illinois River The blue crab home page Cercopagis pengoi (EPA) Crayfish Crayfish bibliography at the Smithsonian Rusty crayfish fact sheet (Minnesota Seagrant Website) Photo of rusty crayfish (USGS photo)

This page last updated on 28 May 2003

Return to the main page.