June 2026 Mud Crab Sampling

An introduced parasite is affecting native mud crabs in Chesapeake Bay. Scientists in SERC’s Marine Invasions Lab have been tracking the abundance of an introduced parasite (Loxothylacus panopaei or Loxo for short) from sites around Chesapeake Bay since 2003 to see how it varies year to year, and they need your help!

We will work together in small groups on a dock or grassy area to sort through the mud crab crates which are filled with oyster shells. You’ll dump the crate contents into sieves, hand-collect crabs (some are super small, no bigger than a tick!), and sort the crabs into data categories.