Crangonyx pseudogracilis Bousfield, 1958 – the first alien amphipod crustacean in freshwaters of Iberian Peninsula (Portugal)

Anastácio

2015

Limnologica

a b s t r a c tFishing activities strongly contribute to biological invasions in freshwaters. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential risks of live bait capture using dip nets and of crayfish trapping as vectors for invasive freshwater macrofauna dispersal. In the Tagus river basin (Portugal), where both activities are common, we evaluated the probability of capture and the electivity of the local aquatic macrofauna according to the method used. During the compulsory removal of the invasive species captured we also quantified fish desiccation survival capacities. We found, for both vectors, that the species exhibiting the highest probability of capture and the highest electivity were invasive, respectively, Gambusia holbrooki and Crangonyx pseudogracilis with the dip net, Procambarus clarkii and several invasive species with special relevance for Ameiurus melas with the crayfish trapping. Moreover, the desiccation survival capacities, of all invasive fishes analyzed, are compatible with long distance dispersal out of water, with special relevance to G. holbrooki. This study demonstrates that fishing activities contribute to long-distance dispersal of invasive fauna. Therefore, according to our findings, it is important to update the fishing regulation and simultaneously to raise fishermen awareness of this problem.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Live bait capture and crayfish trapping as potential vectors for freshwater invasive fauna

Anastácio

2015

Limnologica

“…Range expansion may also be enhanced due to the high suitability of environmental conditions found in most river networks, especially in the south of the Iberian Peninsula and in lowlands. Crangonyx pseudogracilis seems to thrive best in marginal habitats, particularly shallow eutrophic waters , rich in macrophytes and/or roots (Grabowski et al, 2012). Generally, this species is associated to low water quality (polluted and low oxygen content) but it is also able to colonize areas of high water quality (MacNeil et al, 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1). In order to assess the C. pseudogracilis invasion range, a grid of sampling locations containing water throughout the year (isolated pools) was created around the initial detection locations (Banha and Anastácio, 2015;Grabowski et al, 2012) and extended with new records while conducting this survey. This was important because of the temporary character of streams and rivers in this region.…”

Section: Samples Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At each site, the typical microhabitats for amphipods, i.e. rich in plants and their roots (Banha and Anastácio, 2015;Grabowski et al, 2012), were inspected with a dip net (1 mm mesh, 60 cm Â 40 cm frame) until C. pseudogracilis was found, for a maximum of 15 minutes per site. If no C. pseudogracilis were found in its favorable microhabitats, the species was considered absent.…”

Section: Samples Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within the last decade it was spotted in Portugal, being the first invasive amphipod in the Iberian Peninsula (Grabowski et al, 2012). The population colonizing inland waters of Western and Northern Europe originated in the Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA and underwent a strong genetic bottleneck during its introduction, which suggests that this was a single introduction event (Slothouber et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Enhanced fecundity and parasite release in the first amphipod invader on the Iberian Peninsula

Knowl. Manag. Aquat. Ecosyst.

Anastácio

Rachalewski

et al. 2018

Population dynamics and expansion of Crangonyx pseudogracilis, a potentially invasive amphipod

Correia

Knowl. Manag. Aquat. Ecosyst.

Gama

et al. 2021

One of the main drivers of biodiversity loss is the introduction of exotic invasive species. In 2011, an abundant population of Crangonyx pseudogracilis, a freshwater amphipod native to North America, was detected in Portugal. This study allowed us to better understand its biology, analysing the population dynamics in a temporary river and a small lake for one year, and to follow its expansion. Our results showed that this species reproduces in the temporary river during most of the year, but in the lake only from March to July. Amphipod density decreases from May to October and increases from November to April. As usual, females were larger than males, but the proportion of females was higher than males at both sampling locations. Finally, we noticed a great increase in C. pseudogracilis distribution area in relation to what was observed in 2014, with a diffusion coefficient of 2495.27 km2/year and a spread rate of 26 km/year. However, no overlap was yet detected between native and exotic amphipod species.