Structure and dynamics of an invasive population of the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in a Mediterranean wetland

Abstract

This study analyzes the population structure and dynamics of an invasive population of Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) in a Mediterranean wetland using the Bhattacharya's and Von Bertallanfy's analytical methods. The main purpose was to collect biological data necessary for the management of this nuisance species. A maximum of five age classes were identified for both sexes, three of which being composed of a few or zero individuals. Age classes were classified into two subgroups--spring (SpL) and summer (SuL) lines--on the basis of the different hatching periods. Individuals of SpL showed a faster growth rate and reached a larger body size than those belonging to SuL, probably because they were able to grow for a longer time. No between-sex differences were found in growth patterns except for the asymptotic length (L ¥ ), which was reached faster by the females. Other population properties were analyzed, such as a high mortality rate, a maximum longevity of 4 years, and a low mean life-time (<12 months). Finally, a relatively small fraction of individuals seemed to survive after the first reproductive peak in spring. Consequently, the structure and dynamics of the study population seem to reveal its stability and spreading potential, as a confirmation of the invasiveness of P. clarkii in Mediterranean wetlands.

Population ecology of endangered white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipess. str.) in a small rhithral river in Germany

“…CL ∞ and k were estimated for each sex from the obtained 1 mm size-frequency distributions within the ELEFAN I module (non-parametric scoring of the VBGF fit) in the FAO-ICLARM Stock Assessment Tools software (FiSAT 2 v.1.2.2; Pauly and David, 1981;Gayanilo and Pauly, 1997;Scalici et al, 2010), and t 0 was assessed by non-linear regression analysis. Longevity (t max ) was estimated by t max = (3/k) + t 0 (Gayanilo and Pauly, 1997;Scalici and Gherardi, 2007). Finally, the growth performance index (φ ) was derived from k and CL ∞ by applying the equation φ = log(k) + 2 log(CL ∞ ) (Pauly and Munro, 1984).…”

Understanding invasion success: life-history traits and feeding habits of the alien crayfishOrconectes immunis(Decapoda, Astacida, Cambaridae)

“…Longevity (t max ) was estimated using the equation t max = (3/k) + t 0 , and mean lifetime (t 1/2 ) was estimated using the equation t 1/2 = {Σ[n(t)·t]}/N, where n is the number of individuals at time t and N the total number of individuals (Gayanilo and Pauly, 1997;Scalici and Gherardi, 2007;Chucholl, 2011). The growth performance index (ø´) was derived from k and L ∞ by applying the equation ø´= log(k) + 2log (L ∞ ) (Pauly and Munro, 1984).…”

“…Furthermore, life-history data are crucial to develop population management or eradication strategies (cf. Scalici and Gherardi, 2007), especially when an IAS has become well established and early eradication has failed (Simberloff, 2003;Bufford and Daehler, 2011). Filipová et al (2011) recently demonstrated a considerable genetic divergence between European and North American cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene fragment sequences of O. immunis.…”

Present distribution and future spread of louisiana red swamp crayfishProcambarus clarkii(Crustacea, Decapoda, Astacida, Cambaridae) in Britain : Implications for conservation of native species and habitats

“…Procambarus clarkii has all of these traits (Huner, 2002) and the species is well known for its ecological plasticity (Gutierrez-Yurrita and Montes, 1999; Alcorlo et al, 2004). Procambarus clarkii can even adapt to extreme environments, including temporary streams and polluted water (Scalici and Gheradi, 2007).…”

“…In the Hampstead Heath ponds it appears that, as in Germany, that P. clarkii only breed once a year, with juveniles found in October (Richter, 2000). Procambarus clarkii is able to produce at least two generations a year in its native range (Huner, 2002) and in parts of its invasive range in southern Europe (Gherardi et al, 1999;Gherardi, 2006;Scalici and Gheradi, 2007). In optimal conditions, over 600 eggs per berried female have been observed (Huner, 2002) and even in cooler climates the mean number of eggs was 285 per female (Chucholl, 2011b).…”