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The Alien Chinese Mitten Crab, Eriocheir Sinensis (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura), in the Thames Catchment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

Paul F. Clark
Affiliation:
The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.
Philip S. Rainbow
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London, London, El 4NS.
Roni S. Robbins
Affiliation:
The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.
Brian Smith
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London, London, El 4NS.
William E. Yeomans
Affiliation:
Environment Agency, Biology Laboratory, Reading, RG2 OSF.
Myles Thomas
Affiliation:
Environment Agency, Apollo Court, 2 Bishops Square Business Park, St Albans Road West, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9EX
Gina Dobson
Affiliation:
The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.

Extract

Eriocheir sinensis, the Chinese mitten crab, is a native of east Asia and predominantly lives in freshwater but migrates seawards to breed. In 1912 a specimen was collected in the River Aller, a tributary of the Weser, Germany and now this exotic species has a European distribution from Finland to the Atlantic coast of southern France. In the UK, the mitten crab has been reported from the Humber, Medway and Thames catchments. Although the population in Thames had remained low, recent evidence suggests it is increasing, which has potential environmental implications.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1998

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