The team tethered the crustaceans to posts at varying times of the year and at varying depths of Maryland’s Rhode River, a tidal estuary in Chesapeake Bay. After about 24 hours, the researchers would look for signs of predation—basically, if the crabs were dead or injured.

Sometimes I can't tell if these animal studies are conceived based on actual scientific necessity or someone's torture fantasy that happens to provide some useful info.

Most crabs will eat everything edible, AFAIK.