Cannibalism affects the population dynamics of many marine species, but its potential for influencing population sizes of non-native species is not well understood. A series of laboratory experiments was conducted in 2016 to examine the frequency of cannibalism in the Asian shore crab (Hemigrapsus sanguineus) and the factors influencing its rates of occurrence. Predators and prey varied in size from planktonic megalopae (the last larval stage) and the first benthic crab stage to small juveniles (3–6 mm carapace width, CW), large juveniles (7–10 mm CW), and adult crabs (12–15 mm CW). Individual crabs were paired with groups of smaller prey in glass culture dishes with sand and rocks as potential shelter for the prey, both with and without an alternative food source (commercial crab pellets). Adult and large juvenile crabs consumed megalopae, first-stage crabs and small juveniles, regardless of the presence of food. Megalopae were cannibalized the most heavily, and the size difference between predator and prey was an important factor determining cannibalism rates. Cannibalism of settling megalopae and newly settled juveniles by larger conspecifics could affect recruitment to benthic populations of this non-native crab species.

自相残杀影响许多海洋物种的种群动态，但其影响非本地物种种群规模的潜力尚不为人所知。2016年进行了一系列实验室实验，以检查亚洲岸蟹（Hemigrapsus sanguineus）食人族的发生频率）以及影响其发生率的因素。捕食者和猎物的大小不一，从浮游巨plank（最后的幼体阶段）和第一个底栖蟹阶段到小型幼体（3–6 mm甲壳宽度，CW），大型幼体（7–10 mm CW）和成年蟹（12） –15毫米CW）。单个螃蟹在玻璃培养皿中与成群的较小猎物配对，沙子和岩石可作为猎物的潜在庇护所，无论是否带有其他食物来源（商业蟹丸）。无论有无食物，成年和大型的幼蟹都消耗了巨蟹，初级蟹和小型幼体。食人族的食人族最为严重，食肉动物与猎物之间的大小差异是决定食人率的重要因素。