Talk on Invasive Crabs

European green crab.|Photo courtesy of University of Washington.

The Hatfield Marine Science Center’s Science on Tap series continues, pandemic or no pandemic.  You have to pour your own at home, but on the upside, you can pull up a chair anywhere.

The next in the series takes place on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 6 p.m., with a talk entitled “European Green Crabs:  Are they here to stay?”The speaker is invasive species expert Sylvia Yamada, an assistant professor, senior research, with the Department of Zoology at Oregon State University, and long-time student of green crabs. 

Her description of the talk:

“European green crabs are global invasive species that prey on native species, including shellfish and smaller crabs. Furthermore, they can tear up valuable eelgrass meadows and deprive native species of food and shelter.  Green crabs arrived in Oregon estuaries during the 1990’s but remained rare until the 2015-2016 El Niño. Now they are abundant enough to be observed by divers and caught in sports traps.  Where did green crab come from? How can you tell them apart from native crabs? What is their life cycle? How are they spreading? Can you eat them?  Should we be concerned? Come learn the answers to these questions and see if there is anything we can to reduce their numbers.” 

To attend this event, go here.

Or call: +1 971 247 1195   Webinar ID: 984 8237 4868