Data for: Invasive investigation: Uptake and transport of L-leucine in the gill epithelium of crustaceans

<p><span>Many aquatic species are well-known as extremely successful invaders. The green crab (<em>Carcinus</em> <em>maenas</em>) is an arthropod native to European waters; however, it is now known to be a globally invasive species. Recently it was discovered that <em>C. maenas</em> could transport nutrients in the form of amino acids across their gill from the surrounding environment, a feat previously thought to be impossible in arthropods. We compared the ability for branchial amino acid transport of crustaceans native to Canadian Pacific waters to that of the invasive <em>C. maenas</em>, determining if this was a novel pathway in an extremely successful invasive species or a shared trait among crustaceans. Active transport of L-leucine was exhibited in C<em>arcinus maenas, Metacarcinus gracilis, Metacarcinus magister</em>, and <em>Cancer</em> <em>productus</em> across their gill epithelia. <em>C. maenas</em> exhibited the highest maximum rate of branchial L-leucine transport at 53.7 ± 6.24 </span>nmolg^-1h^-1, over twice the rate of two native Canadian crustaceans<span>. We also examined the influence of feeding, gill specificity, and organ accumulation of L-leucine. Feeding events displayed a heavy influence on the branchial transport rate of amino acids, increasing L-leucine transport rates by up to 10-fold in <em>C. maenas</em>. L-leucine displayed </span>a significantly higher accumulation rate <span>in the gills of <em>C. maenas</em> </span>compared to the rest of the body <span>at </span>4.15 <span>± 0.78 </span>nmolg^-1h^-1, with the stomach, hepatopancreas, eyestalks, muscle tissue, carapace, and heart muscle exhibiting accumulation under 0.15 nmolg^-1h^-1. <span>For the first time, the novel transport of amino acids in Canadian native arthropods is described, suggesting that branchial amino acid transport is a shared trait among arthropods, contrary to existing literature. Further investigation is required to determine the influence of environmental temperature and salinity on transport in each species to outline any competitive advantages of the invasive <em>C. maenas</em> in a fluctuating estuarine environment.   </span></p>