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A comparative study of the physiological condition of native and invasive crayfish in Croatian rivers

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Abstract

The physiological condition of two invasive crayfish species identified in Croatian rivers (Orconectes limosus and Pacifastacus leniusculus) was compared with that of native crayfish populations (Astacus astacus and A. leptodactylus). Hepatosomatic, gonadosomatic and abdominal muscle indices were examined for all four species and within a specific invadernative pair. The results demonstrate that invasive crayfish had better overall physiological condition when compared to native species, with a higher energy content of the hepatopancreas, abdominal muscle and gonads in invasive than in native species, with the exception of A. leptodactylus females which demonstrated an increased ability to allocate energy to reproduction in comparison with other species. These results also indicate that A. astacus is physiologically more unstable than A. leptodactylus and thus more likely to be outcompeted and replaced by non-indigenous crayfish species.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Andreja Lucić & Sandra Hudina

  2. K. Krešimira 32A, 34 000, Požega, Croatia

    Matej Faller

  3. Svibanjska 8, 47 250, Duga Resa, Croatia

    Darko Cerjanec

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  1. Andreja Lucić
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  2. Sandra Hudina
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  3. Matej Faller
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  4. Darko Cerjanec
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Correspondence to Andreja Lucić.

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Lucić, A., Hudina, S., Faller, M. et al. A comparative study of the physiological condition of native and invasive crayfish in Croatian rivers. Biologia 67, 172–179 (2012). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-011-0151-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-011-0151-x

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