Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Management of invasive populations of the freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Decapoda, Cambaridae): test of a population-control method and proposal of a standard monitoring approach

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Invasive species are one of the main threats to biodiversity. When an alien species is introduced into a new environment, fast identification and definition of management strategies may avoid or minimize impacts. When an invasive species is already established, the most adopted approaches are population control and monitoring. In order to perform such strategies, assessment of characteristics of the invasive population is imperative. This study tested a new method of population size estimation and monitoring in an invasive population of crayfish Procambarus clarkii in a conservation area in the Atlantic Rain Forest (Southeastern Brazil). The population dynamics was studied for 1 year to examine the efficacy of the selected method and to evaluate if the population is stable. Later, the effect of periodical removal of animals on the population size was tested. The method of population estimation used in this study proved to be very effective. We recommend using it to monitor invasive populations of P. clarkii. The population size varied discretely over the year with variable but low growth rate, indicating that the population is already established which introduce a notable threat to native species. The continuous removal of specimens proved to be inefficient since the growth rate was higher after the removal. One intensive removal event might be more effective than a continuous moderate removal as the one applied in this study.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alcorlo, P., Geiger, W., & Otero, M. (2008). Reproductive biology and life cycle of the invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Crustacea: Decapoda) in diverse aquatic habitats of South-Western Spain: Implications for population. Fundamental and Applied Limnology, 173, 197–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anastácio, P. M., & Marques, J. C. (1997). Crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, effects on initial stages of rice growth in the lower Mondego River valley (Portugal). Freshwater Crayfish, 11, 608–661.

    Google Scholar 

  • Angeler, D. G., Sánchez-Carrillo, S., García, G., & Alvarez-Cobelas, M. (2001). The influence of Procambarus clarkii (Cambaridae, Decapoda) on water quality and sediment characteristics in a Spanish floodplain wetland. Hydrobiologia, 464, 89–98. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013950129616.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banci, K. R. S., Viera, N. F. T., Marinho, P. S., Calixto, P. d. O., & Marques, O. A. V. (2013). Predation of Rhinella ornata (Anura, Bufonidae) by the alien crayfish (Crustacea, Astacidae) Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) in São Paulo, Brazil. Herpetology Notes, 6, 339–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bock, C. E., & Ricklefs, R. E. (1983). Size and local abundance of some North American songbirds: A positive correlation. The American Naturalist, 122, 295–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J. H. (1984). On the relationship between abundance and distribution of species. American Naturalist, 124, 255–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bueno, S. L. S., Shimizu, R., & Rocha, S. S. (2007). Estimating the population size of Aegla franca (Decapoda: Anomura: Aeglidae) by mark–recapture technique from an isolated section of Barro Preto stream, county of Claraval, state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 27, 553–559. https://doi.org/10.1651/S-2762.1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Byers, J. E., Reichard, S., Randall, J. M., Parker, I. M., Carey, S., Lonsdale, W. M., Atkinson, I. E., Seastedt, T. R., Williamson, M., Chornesky, E., & Hayes, D. (2002). Directing research to reduce the impacts of nonindigenous species. Conservation Biology, 16, 630–640. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1739.2002.01057.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cano, E., & Ocete, M. E. (1997). Population biology of red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) in the Guadalquivir River marshes, Spain. Crustaceana, 70, 553–561.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Catford, J. A., Vesk, P., Richardson, D. M., & Pyšek, P. (2012). Quantifying levels of biological invasion: towards the objective classification of invaded and invasible ecosystems. Global Change Biology, 18, 44–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chumchal, M. M., Nowlin, W. H., & Drenner, R. W. (2005). Biomass-dependent effects of common carp on water quality in shallow ponds. Hydrobiologia, 545, 271–277. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-005-3319-y.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, F. P. A., Takano, B. F., Shimizu, R. M., & Bueno, S. L. S. (2013). Population size of Aegla paulensis (Decapoda, Anomura, Aeglidae). Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research, 41, 746–752.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Correia, A. M., & Ferreira, Ó. (1995). Burrowing behavior of the introduced red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Decapoda: Cambaridae) in Portugal. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 15, 248–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crosby, A. (2004). Ecological imperialism: the biological expansion of Europe 900–1900 (2nd ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, J. (1997). Guns, germs, and steel: the fates of human societies (1st ed.). New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dorn, N. J., & Wojdak, J. M. (2004). The role of omnivorous crayfish in littoral communities. Oecologia, 140, 150–159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-004-1548-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elton, C. S. (1958). The ecology of invasions by animals and plants (1st ed.). New York: John Wiley.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Fidalgo, M. L., Carvalho, A. P., & Santos, P. (2001). Population dynamics of the red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) from the Aveiro region, Portugal (Decapoda, Cambaridae). Crustaceana, 74, 369–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeland, W. J. (1986). Populations of cane toad Bufo marinus in relation to time since colonization. Australian Wildlife Research, 13, 321–330. https://doi.org/10.1071/WR9860321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaston, K. J., Blackburn, T. M., Greenwood, J. D., Gregory, R. D., Quinn, R. M., & Lawton, J. H. (2000). Abundance–occupancy relationships. Journal of Applied Ecology, 37, 39–59. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2664.2000.00485.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaston, K. J., Blackburn, T. M., & Lawton, J. H. (1997). Interspecific abundance-range size relationships: an appraisal of mechanisms. Journal of Animal Ecology, 66, 579–601.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gherardi, F., & Acquistapace, P. (2007). Invasive crayfish in Europe: the impact of Procambarus clarkii on the littoral community of a Mediterranean lake. Freshwater Biology, 52, 1249–1259. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2427.2007.01760.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gherardi, F., Aquiloni, L., Diéguez-Uribeondo, J., & Tricarico, E. (2011). Managing invasive crayfish: is there a hope? Aquatic Sciences, 73, 185–200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-011-0181-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Girard, C. (1852). A revision of the North American Astaci, with observation on their habits and geographic distribution. Proceeding of Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia, 6, 87-91.

  • Hansen, G. J. A., Vander Zanden, M. J., Blum, M. J., Clayton, M. K., Hain, E. F., Hauxwell, J., Izzo, M., Kornis, M. S., McIntyre, P. B., Mikulyuk, A., Nilsson, E., Olden, J. D., Papeş, M., & Sharma, S. (2013). Commonly rare and rarely common: comparing population abundance of invasive and native aquatic species. PLoS One, 8, e77415. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0077415.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hanski, I. (1982). Dynamics of regional distribution: the core and satellite species hypothesis. Oikos, 38, 210–221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henttonen, P., & Huner, J. V. (1999). The introduction of alien species of crayfish in Europe: a historical introduction. In F. G. Press & D. M. Holdich (Eds.), Crayfish in Europe as alien species: how to make the best of a bad situation? (pp. 13–22). Rotterdam: A.A. Balkema.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holdich, D. M., Gydemo, R., & Rogers, W. D. (1999). A review of possible methods for controlling alien crayfish populations. In F. G. Press & D. M. Holdich (Eds.), Crayfish in Europe as alien species: how to make the best of a bad situation? (pp. 245–270). Rotterdam: A.A. Balkema.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holdich, D. M., & Lowery, R. S. (1988). Freshwater crayfish: biology, management and exploitation (1st ed.). London: Croom Helm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huner, J. V. (1981). Information about the biology and culture of the red swamp crawfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) (Decapoda, Cambaridae) for fisheries managers in Latin America. Anales del Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, 8, 43–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Köppen, W. (1948). Climatologia: con un estudio de los climas de la tierra. Fondo de Cultura Econômica. México. 479p.

  • Krebs, C. J. (1999). Ecological methodology (2nd ed.). New York: Addison Wesley Educational Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Longshaw, M. (2011). Diseases of crayfish: a review. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 106, 54–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2010.09.013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loureiro, T. G., Bueno, S. L. S., Anastácio, P. M., Almerão, M. P., Souty-Grosset, C., & Araujo, P. B. (2015). Distribution, introduction pathway, and invasion risk analysis of the North American crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Decapoda: Cambaridae) in southeast Brazil. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 35, 88–96. https://doi.org/10.1163/1937240X-00002307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loureiro, T. G., Manuel, P., Gentil, S., Araujo, P. B., & Almerão, M. P. (2015). Red swamp crayfish: biology, ecology and invasion - an overview. Nauplius, 23, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-64972014002214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magalhães, C., Bueno, S. L. S., Bond-Buckup, G., Valenti, W. C., Melo Da Silva, H. L., Kiyohara, F., Mossolin, E. C., & Rocha, S. S. (2005). Exotic species of freshwater decapod crustaceans in the state of São Paulo, Brazil: records and possible causes of their introduction. Biodiversity and Conservation, 14, 1929–1945. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-004-2123-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moraes, J. C. B., Terossi, M., Buranelli, R. C., Tavares, M., Mantelatto, F. L., & Bueno, S. L. D. S. (2016). Morphological and molecular data reveal the cryptic diversity among populations of Aegla paulensis (Decapoda, Anomura, Aeglidae), with descriptions of four new species and comments on dispersal routes and conservation status. Zootaxa, 4193, 1. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4193.1.1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niquette, D. J., & D’Abramo, L. R. (1991). Population dynamics of red swamp crawfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) and white river crawfish, P. acutus acutus (Girard, 1852), cultured in earthen ponds. Journal of Shellfish Research, 10, 179–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, I. M., Simberloff, D., Lonsdale, W. M., Goodell, K., Wonham, M., Kareiva, P. M., Williamson, M. H., Von Holle, B., Moyle, P. B., Byers, J. E., et al. (1999). Impact: toward a framework for understanding the ecological effects of invader. Biological Invasions, 1, 3–19. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010034312781.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pimentel, D., Zuniga, R., & Morrison, D. (2005). Update on the environmental and economic costs associated with alien-invasive species in the United States. Ecological Economics, 52, 273–288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2004.10.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pintor, L. M., Sih, A., & Kerby, J. L. (2009). Behavioral correlations provide a mechanism for explaining high invader densities and increased impacts on native prey. Ecology, 90, 581–587.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ricciardi, A. (2003). Predicting the impacts of an introduced species from its invasion history: an empirical approach applied to zebra mussel invasions. Freshwater Biology, 48, 972–981. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2427.2003.01071.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez, C. F., Bécares, E., & Fernández-Aláez, M. (2003). Shift from clear to turbid phase in Lake Chozas (NW Spain) due to the introduction of American red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). Hydrobiologia, 506, 421–426. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HYDR.0000008626.07042.87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez, C.F., Bécares, E., Fernández-Aláez, M., & Fernández-Aláez, C. (2005). Loss of diversity and degradation of wetlands as a result of introducing exotic crayfish. Issues in bioinvasion science: EEI 2003: a contribution to the knowledge on invasive alien species, pp 75–85, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3870-4_7.

  • Roque, F. O., Trivinho-Strixino, S., Strixino, G., Agostinho, R. C., & Fogo, J. C. (2003). Benthic macroinvertebrates in streams of the Jaraguá State Park (Southeast of Brazil) considering multiple spatial scales. Journal of Insect Conservation, 7, 63–72. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025505323668.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seber, G. A. F. (1982). The estimation of animal abundance and related parameters (2nd ed.). London: Edward Arnold.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seber, G. A. F. (1986). A review of estimating animal abundance. Biometrics, 42, 267–292.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sibly, R. M., & Hone, J. (2002). Population growth rate and its determinants: an overview. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B, 357, 1153–1170. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2002.1117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silva, H. L. M. D., & Bueno, S. L. D. S. (2005). Population size estimation of the exotic crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Cambaridae) in the Alfredo Volpi City Park, São Paulo, Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, 22, 93–98. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-81752005000100012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simberloff, D., Parker, I. M., & Windle, P. N. (2005). Introduced species policy, management, and future research needs. Ecology and Environment, 3, 12–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skurdal, J., & Qvenild, T. (1986). Growth, maturity and fecundity of Astacus astacus in Lake Steinsfjorden, S. E. Norway. Freshwater Crayfish, 6, 182–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sommer, T. R. (1984). The biological response of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii to transplantation into California rice fields. Aquaculture, 41, 373–384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Souty-Grosset, C., Anastácio, P. M., Aquiloni, L., Banha, F., Choquer, J., Chucholl, C., & Tricarico, E. (2016). The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii in Europe: impacts on aquatic ecosystems and human well-being. Limnologica - Ecology and Management of Inland Waters, 58, 78–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.limno.2016.03.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stohlgren, T. J., & Schnase, J. L. (2006). Risk analysis for biological hazards: what we need to know about invasive species. Risk Analysis, 26, 163–173. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2006.00707.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sukô, T. (1953). Studies on the development of the crayfish. I. The development of secondary sex characters in appendages. Scientific Reports from Saitama University, 1B, 77–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westman, K., Pursiainen, M., & Vilkman, R. (1979). A new folding trap model which prevents crayfish from escaping. Freshwater Crayfish, 4, 235–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westman, K., Sumari, O., & Pursiainen, M. (1978). Electric fishing in sampling crayfish. Freshwater Crayfish, 4, 251–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilcove, D. S., Rothstein, D., Dubow, J., Phillips, A., & Losos, E. (1998). Quantifying threats to imperiled species in the United States. BioScience, 48, 607–615. https://doi.org/10.2307/1313420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zar, J. H. (2010). Biostatistical analysis (5th ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall International.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are thankful to the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development of the Brazilian Government (CNPq) for a productivity fellowship granted to PBA. This research was also supported by the Coordination for the Perfecting of High Education Personnel (CAPES), the Graduate program in Animal Biology (UFRGS), and the Institute of Bioscience of the University of São Paulo (USP). We also thank the Comissão Técnico-Científica do Instituto Florestal de São Paulo (COTEC-SP) for fieldwork authorization, Portal Action (http://www.portalaction.com.br/) for statistics support, and reviewers for comments and suggestions for the improvement of the MS.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, 91501-970, Brazil

    Tainã Gonçalves Loureiro & Paula Beatriz Araujo

  2. Department of Landscape, Environment, and Planning, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal

    Pedro Manuel Anastácio

  3. Department of Zoology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Sérgio Luiz de Siqueira Bueno

Authors
  1. Tainã Gonçalves Loureiro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pedro Manuel Anastácio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sérgio Luiz de Siqueira Bueno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Paula Beatriz Araujo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tainã Gonçalves Loureiro.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Loureiro, T.G., Anastácio, P.M., Bueno, S.L. et al. Management of invasive populations of the freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Decapoda, Cambaridae): test of a population-control method and proposal of a standard monitoring approach. Environ Monit Assess 190, 559 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6942-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6942-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation