Survival and osmoregulatory capacity of green crabs (Carcinus maenas) invasive to Canadian Pacific estuaries throughout acute freshwater exposure

Griffin, Robert 1 ; Fehsenfeld, Sandra2; Maccagno, Jenna1; Alessi, Daniel1; Blewett, Tamzin1

Research facility: Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre

Published Jun 15, 2026 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.6djh9w1hx

Data files

Jun 15, 2026 version files 40.50 KB

Griffin_et_al_FW_Exposure_Data.xlsx

36.60 KB
README.md

3.90 KB

Abstract

Data regarding the response of Pacific C. maenas to acute FW exposure, and the implications of increasing temperatures on haemolymph composition in a dilute environment. With an average survival time of 25.4 ± 1.22 h in FW following acclimation to 6.6 ppt seawater (SW), Pacific green crabs exhibited an acute tolerance to exposure in extremely dilute environments. Pacific green crabs' haemolymph osmolality, branchial cyclic AMP (cAMP), oxygen consumption, haemolymph protein, and hemocyanin are largely unaffected within at least the first 6 hours of FW exposure. Branchial cAMP in particular was shown to be over 2-fold higher in green crabs acclimated to 18 ºC when compared to those acclimated at 12 ºC, suggesting that endocrine differences might be correlated to temperature rather than salinity.

Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.6djh9w1hx

Description of the data and file structure

This dataset contains survival times, metabolic rates, haemolymph composition, and branchial cAMP data for acute freshwater exposure in C. maenas invasive to Canadian Pacific estuaries.

Files and variables

File: Griffin_et_al_FW_Exposure_Data.xlsx

Description: Data tabs are separated by method of evaluation

Data Tabs:

Freshwater Lethality: Displays data collected for the acute survival capacity of C. maenas invasive to Pacific Canadian estuaries exposed to FW following transfer from 33 ppt or 6.6 ppt.

Oxygen Consumption: Displays data collected for the oxygen consumption of C. maenas invasive to Pacific Canadian estuaries exposed to FW over a 24 h period.

Haemolymph Osmolality: Displays data collected for the osmolality of C. maenas invasive to Pacific Canadian estuaries exposed to FW over a 24 h period at either 12 °C or 18 °C.

Haemolymph Ions: Displays data collected for the concentration of Na⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ ions in C. maenas invasive to Pacific Canadian estuaries exposed to FW over a 12 h period at either 12 °C or 18 °C.

Hemocyanin: Displays data collected for the concentration of hemocyanin in C. maenas invasive to Pacific Canadian estuaries exposed to FW over a 24 h period at either 12 °C or 18 °C.

Haemolymph Total Protein: Displays data collected for the concentration of haemolymph total protein in C. maenas invasive to Pacific Canadian estuaries exposed to FW over a 24 h period at either 12 °C or 18 °C.

Haemolymph Octopamine: Displays data collected for the concentration of haemolymph octopamine in C. maenas invasive to Pacific Canadian estuaries exposed to FW over a 24 h period at either 12 °C or 18 °C.

Branchial cAMP: Displays data collected for the concentration of branchial cAMP in C. maenas invasive to Pacific Canadian estuaries exposed to FW over a 24 h period at either 12 °C or 18 °C.

Column Variables:

Time (h): Represents the time in hours since exposure was initiated.

Replicate: Represents the replicate number of the individual measurement.

Treatment: Represents the treatment condition ((33 ppt, 33 ppt to FW, 6.6 ppt to FW) or (12 °C, 18 °C)).

Proportion Surviving: Represents the proportion of the population alive at a given time point.

Oxygen Consumption: Represents the oxygen consumption (mg O₂ kg^-1 h^-1) of the individual crab.

Osmolality: Represents the haemolymph osmolality (mmol kg^-1) of the individual crab.

[Na⁺]: Represents the concentration of Na⁺ ions (mg L^-1) within the haemolymph of the individual crab.

[Mg²⁺]: Represents the concentration of Mg²⁺ ions (mg L^-1) within the haemolymph of the individual crab.

[K⁺]: Represents the concentration of K⁺ ions (mg L^-1) within the haemolymph of the individual crab.

[Ca²⁺]: Represents the concentration of Ca²⁺ ions (mg L^-1) within the haemolymph of the individual crab.

[Hemocyanin]: Represents the concentration of hemocyanin (mM) within the haemolymph of the individual crab.

[Haemolymph Total Protein]: Represents the total protein concentration (mg ml^-1) within the haemolymph of the individual crab.

[Octopamine]: Represents the concentration of octopamine (ng ml^-1) within the haemolymph of the individual crab.

[Branchial cAMP]: Represents the concentration of branchial cAMP (ng mg_{total protein}^-1) of the individual crab.

NA: Notates that data is Not Available.

Code/software

Microsoft Excel is required to view this data. No additional packages are needed.