Mechanisms of bioinvasions by coastal crabs using integrative approaches – A conceptual review

Crustaceans are amongst the most reported invaders of coastal habitats, and predatory brachyuran crabs one successful marine invasive groups. They hold high tolerance to abiotic stress their genetic, life-history, behavioural adaptation mechanisms prompt conspicuousness. However, there is a generalized ambiguity on specific processes that make these bioinvasions successful. No trait-related patterns have yet been found, mostly since traits attributed solely non-indigenous crab species lack confirmation by comparison with native counterparts across each other. Therefore, this review discusses available literature fitness plasticity under global changes, advances increasing importance addressing versus non-native comparisons in annals brachyura invasion dynamics. Further on, integrative approaches highlighted proposed as innovative tools disentangle tolerance, overall phenotypic further adaptation. These indicator will advance knowledge crabs’ potential, which ultimately affects upcoming population dynamics ecosystem services, adding value an effective management bioinvasions.