Effectiveness of dam construction to contain the invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii in a Mediterranean mountain stream

Dana, Elías D.; García-de-Lomas, Juan; González, Rubén; Ortega, F. Javier

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2011.06.014

Cited by 43 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The potentially positive role played by barriers has been suggested by other studies on crayfish conservation (Gil-Sanchez & Alba-Tercedor, 2006;Manenti et al, 2014). At the same time, the removal of barriers to allow fish recolonisation may favour upstream movements of invasive crayfish (Dana et al, 2011), and returning fish may also spread crayfish plague and other diseases (Oidtmann, 2012). Our results challenge the idea that hydrological habitat connectivity always has positive effects on native biodiversity.…”

Section: The Challenging Role Of Freshwater Connectivitymentioning

confidence: 63%

“…natural or artificial vertical falls >1 m that invasive crayfish cannot climb over (Dana, Garcia-De-Lomas, Gonzalez, & Ortega, 2011)], piped stretches (artificial subterranean stretches >10 m, which are generally unsuitable for crayfish) and polluted stretches (the presence of very abundant periphyton indicating high organic pollution) (Maitland, 1990;Moss, 1998). natural or artificial vertical falls >1 m that invasive crayfish cannot climb over (Dana, Garcia-De-Lomas, Gonzalez, & Ortega, 2011)], piped stretches (artificial subterranean stretches >10 m, which are generally unsuitable for crayfish) and polluted stretches (the presence of very abundant periphyton indicating high organic pollution) (Maitland, 1990;Moss, 1998).…”

Section: Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To assess the occurrence of barriers, we considered the stretches downstream of each site for a maximum distance of 300 m and noted the occurrence of physical barriers [i.e. natural or artificial vertical falls >1 m that invasive crayfish cannot climb over (Dana, Garcia-De-Lomas, Gonzalez, & Ortega, 2011)], piped stretches (artificial subterranean stretches >10 m, which are generally unsuitable for crayfish) and polluted stretches (the presence of very abundant periphyton indicating high organic pollution) (Maitland, 1990;Moss, 1998). We visually assessed periphyton abundance using a rank scale (1: periphyton absent or <5% of the stream bottom; 2: 5% ≤ periphyton cover <40%; 3: 40% ≤ periphyton cover <60%; 4: 60% ≤ periphyton cover <80% and 5: periphyton covering ≥80% of stream bottom) (Manenti, Ficetola, & De Bernardi, 2009).…”

Section: Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Re-establishing stream connectivity by removing dams and polluted stretches can reconstitute metapopulation dynamics and provide valuable ecological benefits for fish and aquatic invertebrates (Jackson & Pringle, 2010). At the same time, the removal of barriers to allow fish recolonisation may favour upstream movements of invasive crayfish (Dana et al, 2011), and returning fish may also spread crayfish plague and other diseases (Oidtmann, 2012). A broad framework of knowledge is necessary to understand the ecological effects of enhancing or reducing hydrologic connectivity in landscapes deeply shaped by human activities (Jackson & Pringle, 2010).…”

Section: The Challenging Role Of Freshwater Connectivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Causes and consequences of crayfish extinction: Stream connectivity, habitat changes, alien species and ecosystem services

et al. 2018

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Given the ongoing decline of many species, it is important to perform multifactorial analyses of conservation status and to assess the effects of species extinction on ecosystem services. In this study, we used long‐term surveys to assess the influence of habitat change, landscape alteration and invasive species on extinction risk of the native crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes. We reviewed the existing literature to assess which ecosystem services are threatened by local extinction of A. pallipes and replacement with alien crayfish. We sampled 196 streams and wetlands in northern Italy. Of these, 117 received multiple surveys over a 13‐year period (2004–2017), thus allowing accurate measurement of extinction rate. Thirty‐four percent of A. pallipes populations underwent extinction between 2004 and 2017. The occurrence of alien crayfish in the catchment basin and urban growth in the landscape surrounding streams were associated with A. pallipes extinction. The probability of persistence was significantly higher in populations close to stream springs and with physical barriers (especially waterfalls) separating them from basins with alien crayfish. Extinction of native crayfish alters community structure and impairs regulating services such as detrital breakdown and pest regulation. Replacement by alien crayfish (Procambarus clarkii and Faxonius limosus) also threatens supporting and regulating services by altering nutrient cycling, food webs, sediments and erosion. The implementation of management practices that control river connectivity using selective barriers is needed to prevent further local extinction of native species. Integrating information on extinction with knowledge of impacts on ecosystem services is essential in developing more effective conservation policies.

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Section: The Challenging Role Of Freshwater Connectivitymentioning

confidence: 63%

Section: Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Challenging Role Of Freshwater Connectivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Causes and consequences of crayfish extinction: Stream connectivity, habitat changes, alien species and ecosystem services

et al. 2018

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“…Therefore, structures that may act as barriers to movement through alteration of habitat or by creating physically impassable barriers are expected to contribute to the fragmentation of populations. The majority of studies that relate crayfish distribution and movement to river impoundments such as culverts have focused primarily on the potential of culverts and weirs to limit the geographical spread of introduced species of crayfish (Light, 2003;Kerby et al, 2005;Dana et al, 2011;Foster and Keller, 2011;Frings et al, 2013;Maceda-Veiga et al, 2013), thus further highlighting the potential ability of these structures to negatively impact native species of crayfish. Culverts can restrict movement and limit dispersal of crayfish, as well as other aquatic animals by causing the elevation of water velocity, increasing channel homogeneity and alteration of river bed structure, or creating direct barriers through the positioning of elevated culvert outlets and mini weirs (Bubb et al, 2008;Souty-Grosset and Reynolds, 2009;Franklin and Bartels, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do culverts impact the movements of the endangered white-clawed crayfish?

Louca

Ream

Findlay

et al. 2014

Knowl. Managt. Aquatic Ecosyst.

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Key-words: crayfish, dispersal, tracking, Austropotamobius pallipes, impoundmentCulverts can impact the migration and dispersal of aquatic animals and result in population fragmentation, increasing the risk of local extinction for endangered species such as the white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes. This study used radio telemetry and passive integrated transponder (PIT) telemetry to determine whether existing and experimental covered culverts affect the upstream and downstream movements of adult white-clawed crayfish. Daily crayfish movement rates did not differ significantly between an unlit 363-m long culvert and open stream channel sections. Crayfish moved into dark, covered sections volitionally. However, limited upstream movement occurred at sudden transitions of bed height or smooth-concrete box culvert sections with fast flow, suggesting partial barrier effects. In the 20-m long experimental in-stream culvert, also dark, but with natural stream bed, 70% of radio-tagged crayfish released downstream entered the culvert, as did 60% of those released upstream. Overall 35% passed through, with similar numbers in each direction. We conclude that dark culverts up to several hundred metres do not inhibit dispersal of white-clawed crayfish, provided stream slope, bed type and water velocity are amenable for movement and refuge. Care is required to ensure that culverts are bioengineered to ensure that average water velocity is sufficiently low and local hydraulic variation high, the bed and/or sidewalls contain refuge structures, and there are no cross-channel steps in bed level. Smooth-bedded box culverts are unlikely to be suitable for white-clawed crayfish. RÉSUMÉLes ponceaux influent-ils sur les mouvements de l'écrevisse à pattes blanches en voie de disparition ? Mots-clés :écrevisse, dispersion, suivi télémétrique, Les petits ponts d'une seule travée peuvent influer sur la migration et la dispersion des animaux aquatiques et entraîner la fragmentation de la population, augmentant le risque d'extinction locale des espèces menacées telles que l'écrevisse à pattes blanches, Austropotamobius pallipes. Cette étude a utilisé la télémétrie radio et la télémétrie par transpondeur passif intégré (PIT) afin de déterminer si les ponceaux couverts existants et expérimentaux affectent les mouvements en

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Mechanical excavation of wetland habitat failed to eradicate invasive American red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in Malta

Caruana,

Camilleri,

Farrugia

et al. 2024

Ecol Sol and Evidence

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Invasive crayfish are an important ecological concern in many freshwater ecosystems. Many efforts have been made to eradicate them, but there is very little documentation of the effectiveness of these efforts. Between 2019 and 2020, a restoration project funded by the European Regional Development Fund tried to eradicate invasive American red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii from the Fiddien valley system in Malta by mechanically excavating the valley's stream bed and exporting contaminated debris securely off‐site to a dry quarry. Three years post‐intervention, we systematically surveyed the valley system to explore the distribution and relative abundance of the invasive crayfish population. We placed traps in a stratified random sample of stream segments (both those that were included in the original restoration project and those that were not) and recorded catch per unit effort (crayfish caught per trap night) and the size/frequency distribution of crayfish caught. The invasive crayfish were still abundant in the upper reaches of the valley system, and, despite the excavation effort, crayfish were present at the highest relative abundance (4.3–14.8 CPUE, median = 12.3) within the restored area. Despite substantial effort and spending of more than 700,000 €, mechanical excavation did not eradicate invasive crayfish populations. We urge caution for future projects planning to attempt crayfish eradication using this approach and call for much greater impact evaluation, and at the very least post‐project monitoring, to ensure lessons can be learnt from such failures in future.

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Effectiveness of dam construction to contain the invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii in a Mediterranean mountain stream

Cited by 43 publications

References 29 publications

Causes and consequences of crayfish extinction: Stream connectivity, habitat changes, alien species and ecosystem services

Causes and consequences of crayfish extinction: Stream connectivity, habitat changes, alien species and ecosystem services

Do culverts impact the movements of the endangered white-clawed crayfish?

Mechanical excavation of wetland habitat failed to eradicate invasive American red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in Malta

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