Fiddler crab fecundity, energy storage, and parasites from Virginia to New Hampshire 2023

The fiddler crab, Minuca pugnax, has expanded its range north of its historical northern limit of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, due to ocean warming. In 2017, we discovered that fiddler crabs in the expanded range (north of Cape Cod) have fewer parasites than those in the historical range (south of Cape Cod). We collected ovigerous female crabs from Virginia to New Hampshire in June 2023. Embryonic development stage was assessed, dissections were conducted for parasites, and hepatosomatic index (HSI) was use to measure energy storage.