Shell-Shocked: Blue Claw Crabs Toughen Up Baby Clams

Blue claw crabs play a vital role in our local estuaries, acting as both predator and prey in these dynamic ecosystems. But beyond being good for crab cakes, they also have a surprising influence on other shellfish. Join us to learn how these crabs help “toughen up” baby clams—and why that matters for the health of our bays.

This lecture is free with admission to the Lighthouse.

More About the Speaker:

AJ Mabaka grew up on Long Island fishing, crabbing, and clamming throughout the East End. After earning a degree in Environmental Studies from Washington and Lee University, he is now a third-year PhD student at Stony Brook’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS). His research explores predator-prey interactions among shellfish species and investigates how climate-driven changes are reshaping our local marine ecosystems.