De novo whole genome assembly of the globally invasive crab Carcinus maenas (Linnaeus, 1758) using MinION long reads
Invasive species are reshaping marine ecosystems worldwide at an accelerating pace, with profound ecological and economic impacts. The European green crab, Carcinus maenas, is among the most successful invaders and is now found on six continents. The role of genomics in invasion science is increasingly recognised, but genetic resources for brachyuran crabs remain scarce. Here we report on a de novo whole-genome assembly of C. maenas using MinION long-read sequencing. We provide a detailed guide to successfully sequence brachyuran crabs using a MinION approach, including strategies to address pore blockage challenges. This genomic resource expands genomic data availability for the species-rich infraorder Brachyura. Moreover, it provides new insights into the genetic underpinnings contributing to the success of a globally invasive crab species, supporting further research on marine invasion genomics.