Help us find mud crabs so that we can learn more about how an introduced parasite (Loxothylacus panopaei or Loxo for short) is affecting them. Loxo is a parasitic barnacle that takes over the nervous system of affected mud crabs and makes the crab care for the parasite and the parasite's larvae.

Loxo is native to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean and was first discovered in Chesapeake Bay in 1964. The parasite is now common in the Bay, but its abundance and spread vary greatly from year to year. Scientists in SERC's Marine Invasions Lab have been tracking the abundance of Loxo from sites around Chesapeake Bay since 2003 (watch a short video that features the project’s scientists).

Where?

Please note that transportation to Oxford and Broomes Island will not be provided.

Time?

The end time is our best guess, and varies and is the maximum time a session will last. We may end earlier depending weather conditions and on the number of crabs in the collectors.

Who can participate?

We welcome volunteers age 14 years and older. No prior experience required! The project researchers will provide training day-of and will be there to answer all your questions.

All volunteers (including accompanying adults) must be included in the sign up. 

• 16 - 17 years old: No need to be accompanied by a participating adult. However, an adult needs to sign in for you before or at the event.
• 14 - 15 years old: Need to be accompanied by a participating adult.

What to expect?

At each site, we will together on a dock or grassy area to sort through the mud crab crates which are filled with oyster shells.

• When we pull up the crates, we dump the contents in sieves, and hand-collect every single crab from every shell for further study.
• Some of the crabs are really small--no bigger than a tick!
• After we have found all of the crabs in their “crab condos,” we put the now uninhabited shells back into the crates and into the water.

The crates can accumulate quite a bit of sediment, and you can expect to get wet, dirty, and muddy. We recommend dressing comfortably in layers, and to wear clothes and shoes that can get dirty.

As with many activities outside, the mud crab sampling is weather dependent. If we need to reschedule due to rain/thunder, we will let everyone know who signed up what the alternative day will be. 

Important Notes

• Specific directions and what to bring/wear will be sent via email two days before the date to those who sign-up.
• Closed-toed shoes are required.
• At the SERC docks, there are multi-stall bathrooms designated "women" and "men" available in the Reed Center.