Date of the first record

The date of the first documented record of the species occurrence in a country/country region.
Date fields usage example:

Date to be specifiedDate FromDate To
Exact 198519851985
18th century17011800
before 1700 1700
after 20012001 

Environmental position

Environment(s) occupied by a species throughout its life cycle.

OPTIONS:

Biofouling. Assemblage of organisms on wetted artificial substrates.

Commensal. An organism in a symbiotic relationship, in which one benefits while the other is not adversely affected.

Demersal. Synonyms: hyperbenthic, benthopelagic, nektobenthic. An organism living at, in or near the bottom of the sea, but having the ability to swim.

Ectoparasite. A parasite living on the surface of its host.

Endoparasite. A parasite living within the organs or tissues of its host.

Epifaunal. Synonym: epibenthic. An animal inhabiting the surface of the seabed, submerged plants and animals.

Epilithic. An organism living on the surface of rock or other hard inorganic substrata.

Epiphytic. An organism living on the surface of a plant, non-parasitic.

Epizoic. An organism living on the surface of an animal, non-parasitic.

Infaunal. Synonym: endobenthic. An animal living within the seabed sediments.

Interstitial. An organism (< 1 mm) living in the spaces between sediment particles.

Lithotomous. An organism burrowing into rock.

Neustonic. An organism living on (epineuston) or under (hyponeuston) the surface film of water bodies.

Pelagic. An organism inhabiting the water column.

Pleustonic. An organism inhabiting the water surface due to their own buoyancy, normally positioned partly in the water and partly in the air.

Habitat type

Estuary. River mouth, transition zone between riverine and marine environments, subject to influences from both.

Lagoon. Shallow, enclosed water body separated from the sea by barrier islands, narrow spit or reefs.

Offshore. Areas located at least 50 nautical miles from the shore.

Open coast. A coast not sheltered from the sea.

Strait/Sound. Channels between the mainland and an island or between two islands which are open at both ends to the open coast (it does not refer to similar features or narrows within marine inlets).

Sheltered coastal area. Coastal area partly surrounded by land (e.g., bay, inlet, fjord).

Ports. A location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbours where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land.

Port vicinity. The area near a port where ballast water operations may occur, including areas where vessels may conduct ballast water discharge or uptake operations when approaching a port or leaving it, e.g., port approaches, anchorage areas and designated ballast water exchange areas. The dimension is port specific.

Marina. A specially designed harbour for pleasure craft and small boats.

Aquaculture sites. Areas set out for the purpose of farming aquatic organisms.

Marine Protected Area (MPA). Defined marine area where natural resources are given greater protection than the surrounding waters. Different categories exist depending on the level of protection afforded by legislation.

Migration pattern

Diurnal. Movements between alternative habitats over day and night, e.g. vertical migration.

Life-time. One time migration between different habitats during the life cycle, e.g. anadromus migration.

Not relevant. No evidence of any life history cycle stages to migrate.

Seasonal. Movements between alternative habitats during a specific time of a year (e.g., spawning and feeding migrations).

Pathway / Vector

Pathway

A pathway is the route a NIS takes to enter or spread through a non-native ecosystem e.g. vessels. Each pathway may have a number of vectors.

Vector

A vector is a transfer mechanism and is the physical means by which species are transported from one geographic region to another. More than one vector within a pathway may be involved in a transfer of species.

Pathways and vectors included:
PathwayVector
Aquarium tradeIntentional organism release
Transported water
Waste discharge
Culture activitiesAquaculture equipment
Associated water & packaging material
Intercontinental stock movement
Regional stock movement
Unintentional release & escapees
Leisure activitiesAngling catch
Cultural releases
Live bait
Live souvenirs
Sport equipment
Stocking for angling
Waste discharge
Live food tradeIntentional organism release
Transported water
Waste discharge
ManagementBiological habitat management
Construction equipment
Construction materials
Release for biological control
Natural spread from neighboring countriesOther natural vectors
Water currents
Other canalsCanal de Midi (linking the Bay of Biscay with the Mediterranean Sea)
Kiel Canal (linking the North Sea with the Baltic)
Northern waterway (linking the Baltic with the Ponto-Caspian region through Volga river canal system)
Rhone waterway (linking the North Sea with the Mediterranean)
Southern waterway (linking the North Sea with the Black Sea through Danube river canal system)
Central waterway (linking the Baltic Sea with the Black Sea through the Dnieper river canal system)
Other waterways
Irrigation canals
Research and educationGear movement
Intentional releases
Unintentional release & escapees
Waste discharge
Suez Canal 
VesselsAnchor and anchor chain
Ballast tank sediments
Ballast water
Ship’s hull
Sea chest
Others
Wild fisheriesDiscard of by-catch
Fishing gear
Live bait release
Live packaging material
Processed live material
Stock movements
Transported water

Pathway / Vector – Levels of certainty:
LevelCriteriaExamples
Direct evidenceThe species was actually found associated with the specific vector(s) of a pathway at the time of introduction to a particular locality within a country/country region.Documented evidence of an introduction: release to the wild for stocking or biological control; escape/release of live food; import of cultured species and documented findings of their associate organisms, parasites and diseases on transmission; appearance of organisms by hull fouling, ballast water discharge sampling or other ship vectors documented upon an arrival with appropriate scientific methods.
Very likelyThe species appears for the first time in a locality where a single pathway/vector(s) is known to operate and where there is no other explanation that can be argued for its presence except by this likely pathway/vector(s).A highly localized distribution of a species in an area adjacent to an isolated port or other locality where the only pathway is vessels and its vector(s) (ballast water, hull fouling, etc). This often involves geographically discontinuous distributions. It may be a continuous spread as in case of introduction by canals or by natural means. The conclusion is deduced from the analysis of the invasion event and species distribution patterns.
PossibleThe species cannot be convincingly ascribed to a single pathway, but is known to be introduced by this pathway(s) elsewhere.There may be more than one pathway involved in the introduction within a country/country region. Arrival of a species known to have taken place elsewhere by the same pathway(s) which operates in an area. A conclusion is made by expert judgment based on pathways currently or historically present.
UnknownInvasion of a given alien species cannot be clearly explained.Where no rational explanation for the appearance of a species in a given country/region.

Population status

Population status (the lowest level of certainty):

Unknown. There is no reliable information on population status of a species.
Established. A species is known to form a reproducing population in a wild.
Not established. There is no evidence of a species’ reproducing population in a wild.

Population status (the moderate level of certainty):
Extinct/no recent record. There are old records where a species was recorded but have not been seen in the same region since.
Rare/single record. There are only casual observations or a single record of a species'presence available.
Common. A species with successfully reproducing populations in an open ecosystem, which are unlikely to be eliminated by man or natural causes. Not dominating native communities.
Abundant. A species with successfully reproducing populations in an open ecosystem, which are unlikely to be eliminated by man or natural causes. Locally dominating native communities.
Very abundant. A species with successfully reproducing populations in an open ecosystem, which are unlikely to be eliminated by man or natural causes. Largely dominating native communities.
Outbreak. A species undergoing pulse-like, short-term (days to few months) exponential population growth during which they have an adverse effect on one or more of the following: biological diversity, ecosystem functioning, socio-economic values and human health.

Recipient region

The country/region for which introduction is recorded.

References.



References should follow the standard of Biological invasions:


Journal article
Gamelin FX, Baquet G, Berthoin S, Thevenet D, Nourry C, Nottin S, Bosquet L (2009) Effect of high intensity intermittent training on heart rate variability in prepubescent children. Eur J Appl Physiol 105:731-738. doi: 10.1007/s00421-008-0955-8
Ideally, the names of all authors should be provided, but the usage of “et al” in long author lists will also be accepted:
Smith J, Jones M Jr, Houghton L et al (1999) Future of health insurance. N Engl J Med 965:325–329


Article by DOI


Slifka MK, Whitton JL (2000) Clinical implications of dysregulated cytokine production. J Mol Med. doi:10.1007/s001090000086


Book
South J, Blass B (2001) The future of modern genomics. Blackwell, London


Book chapter
Brown B, Aaron M (2001) The politics of nature. In: Smith J (ed) The rise of modern genomics, 3rd edn. Wiley, New York, pp 230-257


Online document
Cartwright J (2007) Big stars have weather too. IOP Publishing PhysicsWeb. http://physicsweb.org/articles/news/11/6/16/1. Accessed 26 June 2007


Dissertation
Trent JW (1975) Experimental acute renal failure. Dissertation, University of California

Reproductive duration

Long. Breeds in one or more discrete periods, each longer than three months.

Medium. Breeds in one or more discrete periods, each longer than a week and less than three months.

Short. Breeds in one or more discrete periods within a week.

Reproductive seasonality

Months for a species known to reproduce in the invaded site.

Salinity range

The exact salinity range if known (psu), else salinity zone(s) according to the Venice system:
1. Limnetic [<0.5psu]
2. β-Oligohaline [0.5-3psu]
3. α-Oligohaline [3-5psu]
4. β-Mesohaline [5-10psu]
5. α-Mesohaline [10-18psu]
6. Polymixohaline [18-30psu]
7. Euhaline [30-40psu]
8. Hypersaline [>40psu]

Source region

The area the species was introduced from to the recipient country/country region. Depending on the information availability may be ascribed to a particular locality (e.g. port), a country, a LME or a larger Ocean region.
CAUTION: in many cases the source area will be not the same as the area of native origin which is defined in the SPECIES block of the database.

Species status

Non-indigenous species. Non-indigenous species (synonyms: alien, exotic, non-native, allochthonous, introduced) are species, subspecies or lower taxa (such as a variety, form) introduced outside of their natural range (past or present) and outside of their natural dispersal potential. This includes any propagule of a NIS, such as a gamete, seed or resting spore, a gravid female or a pair of individuals of different sexes (in sexual reproduction), or a vegetative reproductive organ and section of tissue (in asexual reproduction), which might survive, reproduce and subsequently form a population. It also includes hybrids between an alien species and an indigenous species, fertile polyploid organisms and artificially hybridized species irrespective of their natural range or dispersal potential.

Cryptogenic. Cryptogenic species are such species which cannot be reliably demonstrated as being either introduced or native. In some cases the true origin of a species remains obscure because of either insufficient taxonomic knowledge or due to a lack of records from the time they became introduced, or for other reasons.

Temperature range

Indicate min. and max. annual temperature range in the area where a species is known to maintain an established (reproducing) population.

Wave exposure

Exposed. Open coastline facing prevailing wind and receiving both wind-driven waves and swell.

Semi exposed. Generally open coasts facing away from prevailing winds or sheltered by offshore reefs/structures.

Sheltered. Coasts with a restricted fetch (<20 km) and lacking persistent swell.

Zonation

Ecological zone(s) occupied by a species throughout its life cycle.

Benthic - Bathyal. Synonym: continental slope. The seafloor between the edge of the continental shelf and abyssal plain (200-4000 m).

Benthic - Littoral. Synonym: intertidal. The shore between the high and low water marks.

Benthic - Sublittoral beyond photic zone. Synonym: lower circalittoral. The lower part of the continental shelf, where photosynthesis cannot take place.

Benthic - Sublittoral within photic zone. Synonyms: subtidal, infralittoral. The shallow part of sublittoral where photosynthesis can occur.

Benthic - Supralittoral. Synonyms: splash zone, spray zone, supratidal zone. The area above the spring high tide line, subject spray or splash.

Pelagic - Littoral. Water mass within littoral zone.

Pelagic - Neritic. Water mass above the continental shelf.

Pelagic - Offshore. Synonym: oceanic. Water mass beyond the continental shelf.

Public domain: Introduction event account

Species Eriocheir sinensis  
Date of the first record (?) 1935

References (not structured):
Ingle RW (1986) The Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards - a contentious immigrant. The London Naturalist, No. 65: 101-105.
Clark PF (1986) North-east Atlantic crabs: an atlas of distribution. Ross-on-Wye, Marine Conservation Society.
Herborg LM, Rudnick DA, Siliang Y, Lodge DM, MacIsaac HJ (2007) Predicting the range of Chinese mitten crabs in Europe. Conservation Biology. 21(5): 1316-1323.
Clark PF (1984) Recent records of Alien crabs in Britain. Naturalist 109: 111-122.

Comments:
Recorded in the Thames River at Chelsea on the intake screens of a power station. It is also known from the Humber and Medway Estuaries and there are accounts of it from the Tyne Estuary and the Ouse.
Recipient region (?) Country: United Kingdom (Britain)
LME: 22. North Sea
Source region (?) Ocean: Pacific
--> Ocean region: NW Pacific

References (not structured):
Herborg LM, Rushton SP, Clare AS, Bentley MG (2003) Spread of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards) in Continental Europe: analysis of a historical data set. Hydrobiologia 503, 21–28.
Herborg LM, Rushton SP, Clare AS, Bentley MG (2005) The invasion of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) in the United Kingdom and its comparison to continental Europe. Biol. Invasions 7, 959–968.
Herborg LM, Weetman D, Van Oosterhout C, Hanfling B (2007) Genetic population structure and contemporary dispersal patterns of a recent European invader, the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis. Mol. Ecol. 16, 231–242.

Comments:
Its introduction to Britain is most probably as a result of ballast water transmissions of larval stages from estuarine ports in continental Europe where there are established populations.
Pathway / Vector (?) Level of certainty: Highly likely

Pathway: Vessels
Vector: (Possible) Ballast water
Vector: (Possible) Sea chest

References (not structured):
Gollasch S (1999) Eriocheir sinensis (Milne-Edwards, 1854), the Chinese Mitten Crab. In: Gollasch S, Minchin D, Rosenthal H, Voigt M (eds.): Exotics Across the Ocean. Case histories on introduced species: their general biology, distribution, range expansion and impact: 55-60.
Cohen AN, Carlton JT (1997) Transoceanic transport mechanisms: introduction of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, to California. Pac. Sci. 51, 1–11.
Hamer JP, McCollin TA, Lucas IAN (1998) Viability of decapod larvae in ships' ballast water. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 36, 646–647.

Comments:
While it is likely that the introduction was from ballast water discharges to the Thames Estuary. There is good eveidence from other introductions of this species elsewhere that vessels are responsible for transmissions. It is possible that the species might have been deliberately introduced and released, however considering the date of arrival while possible probably did not take place. A further possibility is from natural spread from northern Europe but this is not thought to be the case as no megalopa stages are known to be captured offshore.
Habitat type (?) Estuary
Port vicinity
Ports
Sheltered coastal area

References (not structured):
Clark PFC, Rainbow PS, Robbins RS, Smith B, Yeomans WE, Thomas M, Dobson G (1998) The alien Chinese mitten-crab, Eriocheir sinensis (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura), in the Thames catchment. Journal of the marine biological Association of the United Kingdom 78: 1215-1221.

Comments:
This species has an extensive ambulatory migration. It is catadromous reproducing in the brackish conditions of large estuaries to release its larvae. Young crabs migrate into the upper estuaries and to rivers and canals where they develop to adults that then migrate back downriver to brackish conditions.
Wave exposure (?) Sheltered

References (not structured):
Dittel AI, Epifanio CE (2009) Invasion biology of the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis: a brief review. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 374: 79-92.

Comments:
Larvae are confined to estuarine conditions.
Salinity range (?) Exact range: 0 - 45

References (not structured):
Anger K (1991) Effects of temperature and salinity on the larval development of the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis (Decapoda, Grapsidae). Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 72: 103–110.
Cieluch U, Anger K, Charmantier-Daures M, Charmantier G (2006) Osmoregulation
and immunolocalization of Na+/K+-ATPase during the ontogeny of the mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis (Decapoda, Grapsoidea). Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 329, 169–178.

Comments:
Mating and fertilization takes place in about 18 psu. Larval zoea tolerate salinities between 10 and 30 psu. Late zoeal stages require higher salinities than the zoea 1 stage. Megalopa stages are thought to then be found in lower salinities that these later zoeal stages. Laboratory studies have shown a tolerance of larvae to 45 psu.
Temperature range (?) Min: 1
Max: 28

References (not structured):
Anger K (1991) Effects of temperature and salinity on the larval development of the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis (Decapoda, Grapsidae). Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 72: 103–110.

Comments:
15-18 oC is optimal for larval stages, and juveniles can endure 24-28 oC.
Zonation / Substratum (?) Benthic and Pelagic:
Littoral (Benthic)
Littoral (Pelagic)
Sublittoral within photic zone
Supralittoral
Substratum:
Soft (mud to pebbles)

References (not structured):
Gollasch S (1999) Eriocheir sinensis (Milne-Edwards, 1854), the Chinese Mitten Crab. In: Gollasch S, Minchin D, Rosenthal H, Voigt M (eds.): Exotics Across the Ocean. Case histories on introduced species: their general biology, distribution, range expansion and impact: 55-60.
Gilbey V, Attrill MJ, Coleman RA (2008) Juvenile Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) in the Thames estuary: distribution, movement and possible interactions with the native crab Carcinus maenas. Biol. Invasions 10, 67–77.

Comments:
Depending on the life history stage the larvae appear in the plankton and undergo the normal development undergoing five zoeal stages to megalopa before settling and becoming a mobile benthic species.
Reproductive duration (?)Medium

References (not structured):
Dittel AI, Epifanio CE (2009) Invasion biology of the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis: a brief review. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 374: 79-92.

Comments:
Crabs that reproduce are variable in size an live about two years, but may survive to four years, they spawn in spring and early summer in the Thames Estuary.
Reproductive seasonality (?) Apr.
May

References (not structured):
Robbins RS, Smith BD, Rainbow PS, Clark PF (1999) Seasonal changes (1995–1997)in the populations of the Chinese mitten crabs, Eriocheir sinensis (Decapoda, Brachyura, Grapsidae) in the Thames at Chelsea, London. In: Carel von Vaupel J,
Klein J, Schram FR (eds.) The biodiversity crisis and Crustacea. Proceedings of the 4th international Crustacean congress. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 343–350.

Comments:
Following reproduction adult crabs are thought to expire. The larval stages last one to two months.
Migration pattern (?) Life-time

References (not structured):
Veilleux É, de Lafontaine Y (2007) Biological Synopsis of the Chinese Mitten Crab(Eriocheir sinensis) Fisheries and Oceans Canada Science Branch, Pacific Region. Pacific Biological Station Nanaimo, BC V9T 6N7.
Panning A (1939) The Chinese mitten crab. Annual Report Smithsonian Institution, 1938, pp. 361–375.
Tilburg CE, Dittel AI, Epifanio C, (2007) Retention of crab larvae in a coastal null zone. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 72, 570–578.

Comments:
Crabs move downstream to brackish conditions in the Thames Estuary during September to December. Males descend in advance of females. The young crab develop in brackish conditions where they are retained before ascending estuaries and into the rivers and can form dense migrations moving upstream in the Thames catchment in summer.
Population status (?) Common (Moderate level of certainty)

References (not structured):
Herborg LM, Rushton SP, Clare AS, Bentley MG (2005) The invasion of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) in the United Kingdom and its comparison to continental Europe. Biol. Invasions 7, 959–968.
Clark PF, Rainbow PS, Robbins RS, Smith B, Yeomans WE, Thomas M Dobson G (1998) The Alien Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis (H. Milne Edwards, 1854) [Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura], in the Thames Catchment. Journal of the Marine Biological Association. 78(4): 1215-1221.
Rainbow P, Robbins R, Clark P (2003) Alien invaders: Chinese mitten crabs in the Thames and spreading. Biologist 50 (5): 227-230.

Comments:
Established in the Thames and Humber river and estuarine regions.
Species status (?) Non-indigenous species

References (not structured):
Herborg L-M, Rushton SP, Clare AS, Bentley MG (2005) The invasion of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) in the United Kingdom and its comparison with Continental Europe. Biological Invasions 7(6): 959-968.
Ingle RW (1986) The Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards - a contentious immigrant. The London Naturalist 63: 101-105.
Ingle RW, Andrews MJ (1976) Chinese mitten crab reappears in Britain. Nature, London 263: 638.
Wall C, Limbert M (1983) A Yorkshire record of the Chinese Mitten Crab. Naturlist 108: 147.

Comments:
The crab is clearly non-indigenous and may be expected to colonise other rivers with large estuaries.
PortsPort: London
Date of the first record: 1935
Population status: Common
References:
Stentiford, G (2005) Survey of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) from the Thames estuary to investigate their potential as vectors for the metacercarial stage of the human lung fluke (Paragonimus westermani). Report to the London Port Health Authority.
Comments:
Life history stages of the crab will occur within the port region.
 
Port vicinitiesPort vicinity: London
Date of the first record: 1935
Population status: Common
References:
Stentiford, G (2005) Survey of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) from the Thames estuary to investigate their potential as vectors for the metacercarial stage of the human lung fluke (Paragonimus westermani). Report to the London Port Health Authority.
Comments:
Life history stages pass throughout the port region seasonally.
 
Created byDan Minchin, 2012-03-07
Last update byElizabeth J. Cook, 2013-11-13
Contributors
Added by Dan Minchin, 2012-03-07
Edited by Dan Minchin, 2013-10-29
Edited by Elizabeth J. Cook, 2013-11-13