Range expansion of the lady crab Ovalipes ocellatus Herbst, 1799 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Portunidae) due to ocean warming.

The article focuses on the northward range expansion of the lady crab Ovalipes ocellatus in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, particularly into the Gulf of Maine and Bay of Fundy, likely driven by ocean warming associated with global climate change. Historically limited to south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and a disjunct population in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, recent trawl surveys, crowd-sourced observations, and temperature data indicate that O. ocellatus has expanded its range northward following a 2012 marine heatwave. The study documents increased abundances and reproductive evidence in these northern areas, suggesting a potential permanent establishment, while also noting the species’ southern range limit near St. Augustine, Florida remains largely unchanged. The authors highlight the need for further research on the ecological impacts of this range expansion on local food webs and fisheries.