Texas mud crabs

Thought readers in this section might be interested to learn about a problem that has shown up in Texas - saltwater crabs that have seemingly adapted to freshwater and moved in to some of our lakes. The university where I work, Tarleton State University, has done research into this issue. Here is a link if you want to read more.

http://www.tarleton....gy/MudCrab.html

Thought readers in this section might be interested to learn about a problem that has shown up in Texas - saltwater crabs that have seemingly adapted to freshwater and moved in to some of our lakes. The university where I work, Tarleton State University, has done research into this issue. Here is a link if you want to read more.

http://www.tarleton....gy/MudCrab.html

Can they be used for something else? Bait/animal/human consuption, anything? That is very interesting how they adapted to freshwater!

Can they be used for something else? Bait/animal/human consuption, anything? That is very interesting how they adapted to freshwater!

The folks I talked to in our Biology department had nothing positive to say about these little crabs and are truly confounded by there adaptability. One thing for sure, they are thriving - numbers are such that these crabs are stopping up the intakes of plumbing to lakeshore homes that use lakewater.

The folks I talked to in our Biology department had nothing positive to say about these little crabs and are truly confounded by there adaptability. One thing for sure, they are thriving - numbers are such that these crabs are stopping up the intakes of plumbing to lakeshore homes that use lakewater.

Do they classify as invasive??? I always think how humans can over collect/fish cultivate creatures into extinction or a nuisance . I mean the majority of people go killing and abusing and over harvesting the environment until there is nothing further to gain. Hopr there is a silver lining to this cloud like the crabs are the craziest small mouth bass bait!!! I know, dumb wish, but it's still my wish!!!

This is a perfect example of the static view of ecosystems and species failing. If a population of marine/brackish crabs have adapted to fresh water reproduction and moved upstream and established themselves inland, does that make them:

A)Invasive
B) A new species (are they reproductively isolated by the salinity?)
C) nuisance species
D) Native Fauna
E) Dinner

Answers will depend on your point of view...

This is a perfect example of the static view of ecosystems and species failing. If a population of marine/brackish crabs have adapted to fresh water reproduction and moved upstream and established themselves inland, does that make them:

A)Invasive
B) A new species (are they reproductively isolated by the salinity?)
C) nuisance species
D) Native Fauna
E) Dinner

Answers will depend on your point of view...

F) All Of The Above

That's my final answer.

F) All Of The Above

That's my final answer.

seems odd how could a species be native, envasive and a new species all at the same time?

seems odd how could a species be native, envasive and a new species all at the same time?

exactly!

exactly!

like them creek chub right tom

And it's not odd that these crabs are adapting to freshwater?
tglassburner has a good point.

And it's not odd that these crabs are adapting to freshwater?
tglassburner has a good point.

Thank you, I'm not the only one who can see that.

What I want to know is "what's not in the lake anymore which previously used to keep out the crabs?"

What I want to know is "what's not in the lake anymore which previously used to keep out the crabs?"

My suspicion would be that the lake's salinity has gone up.