| Title | Effects of Green Crab (Carcinus maenas) Across Variable Densities of Eelgrass (Zostera marina) |
| Publication Type | Thesis |
| Year of Publication | 2022 |
| Authors | Brown, Kimberly Alexis |
| Academic Department | Environmental Science and Management |
| Degree | M.S. |
| Pagination | 60 p. |
| University | Portland State University |
| City | Portland, Or. |
| Type of Work | Masters Thesis |
| Call Number | OSU Libraries: Digital Open Access |
| Keywords | depleted populations, ecosystem health, eelgrass = Zostera marina, European green crab = Carcinus maenas, habitats, introduced species, Netarts Bay |
| Notes | The European green crab is an invasive species. It preys on shellfish and by burrowing can damage eelgrass beds. Eelgrass (Zostera marina) provides valuable habitat for many estuarine inhabitants, but Pacific Northwest populations of eelgrass are declining throughout the region. This Master’s thesis investigates interactions between the European green crab and eelgrass, to learn how the relatively new invader can affect the vulnerable and essential native eelgrass. The author conducted experiments to determine if the density of eelgrass beds deterred green crab from harmful activities. The author recommends trapping to remove green crabs from environments they have invaded. “These observations suggest that efforts to restore Z. marina should include replanting at high densities to create more resilient beds” (from the Abstract). This is Portland State University’s Dissertations and Theses. Paper 5895. |
| URL | https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/37076 |
| DOI | 10.15760/etd.7766 |
