Epibionts of the great spider crab, Hyas araneus (Linnaeus, 1758), in the Barents Sea

Hyas araneus is the most common brachyuran crab in the coastal Barents Sea. Its epibionts were occasionally examined in 1940-1950s. To obtain modern information about associated organisms living on the crabs and compare new data with previous findings, the species composition, infestation indices, and spatial distribution of macro-epibionts colonizing H. araneus were examined in Dalnezelenetskaya Bay, a small semi-open gulf, in summer 2008-2010. A total of 41 taxa were observed on 48 crabs collected from depths ranging from 5 to 28 m. Red algae Ptilota plumosa (prevalence 39.6%) and Palmaria palmata (37.5%) as well as the copepod Harpacticus uniremis (39.6%) and the tube-dwelling worm Placostegus tridentatus (35.4%) predominated on the crabs. Infestation indices were similar in male and female crabs except for the turbellarian worm Peraclistus oophagus. Comparison with the previous study showed some changes in H. araneus fouling community that may be attributed to the shift of climatic regime or differences in sampling procedures. Presence of the amphipod Ischyrocerus commensalis, a new epibiont of H. araneus in the study area may be associated with introduction of the red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus. Infestation indices of common epibionts depend on the crab shell conditions. Localization of epibionts strongly depended on the settlement patterns of larvae and host-associate relationships. Typical fouling organisms were found predominantly on the carapaces or limbs, while the majority of mobile species were recorded on the gills. Colonization of great spider crabs is beneficial for the epibiont species, whereas some negative effects for the basibiont could not be excluded.