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Ectozoochory as a possible vector enhancing the spread of an alien amphipod Crangonyx pseudogracilis

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Abstract

Most studies of biological invasions refer to the human role in species dispersal but the importance of ectozoochory has scarcely been studied. Thus, we investigated whether the first alien amphipod species found in the Iberian Peninsula, North American Crangonyx pseudogracilis can be dispersed by waterfowl. To do this, we showed experimentally that the amphipod may cling to the plumage and legs of a mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) and be transported under controlled laboratory conditions. The probability of the amphipods being transported on duck’s plumage or feet is 1.84 and 1.6%, respectively. Another experiment showed that C. pseudogracilis may stay attached to a flying duck and survive during its flight for a distance of 6.8 km. In addition, we found that this invader can stay alive with a LT90 of 88.6 min when exposed to desiccation. Thus, we conclude that C. pseudogracilis may be successfully transported by the waterfowl for short distances to other waterbodies. Thus, ectozoochory may be an important way of spreading the amphipods in areas where the hydrological network is poorly developed and not interconnected with artificial canals.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partially financed by FEDER funds through the “Programa Operacional de Factores de Competitividade—COMPETE” and by national funds through “FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia” on the scope of the project DID (Dispersal of Invasive Decapoda) (PTDC/BIA-BEC/105182/2008). All the experiments with use of the mallard ducks were performed in accordance with the Portuguese law. We thank the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Évora for the cooperation in the preparation of the experiments.

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  1. IMAR, Centro de Mar e Ambiente and Departamento de Paisagem, Ambiente e Ordenamento, Universidade de Évora, Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7000-671, Évora, Portugal

    Filipe Banha & Pedro Manuel Anastácio

  2. Department of Invertebrate Zoology & Hydrobiology, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237, Lodz, Poland

    Michal Rachalewski & Michal Grabowski

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  1. Michal Rachalewski
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  2. Filipe Banha
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  3. Michal Grabowski
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Correspondence to Michal Rachalewski.

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Rachalewski, M., Banha, F., Grabowski, M. et al. Ectozoochory as a possible vector enhancing the spread of an alien amphipod Crangonyx pseudogracilis . Hydrobiologia 717, 109–117 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-013-1577-7

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