Abstract
Freshwater crayfish are key members of aquatic communities due to their large size and abundance. Although most commonly regarded as herbivores and detritivores, they are also selective predators. The crayfish plague fungus Aphanomyces astaci (Schikora) led to the elimination of a stock of white-clawed crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes (Lereboullet) from Lough Lene, Co. Westmeath, in 1987. Samples taken of the flora and benthic communities of two Irish lakes, one (Lough Bane) formerly containing crayfish and the other (Lough Lene) immediately following a plague outbreak, were compared to similar samples taken a year later and ecological shifts were noted and compared to laboratory feeding results. Over time, Chara strands increased in mean length, and molluscs became more abundant.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abrahamsson, S. A., 1966. Dynamics of an isolated population of the crayfish Astacus astacus. Oikos 17: 96–107.
Abrahamsson, S. A. & C. R. Goldman, 1970. Distribution, density and production of the crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana) in L. Tahoe, California-Nevada. Oikos 21: 83–91.
Dean, J. L., 1969. Biology of the crayfish Orconectes causeyi and its use for control of aquatic weeds in trout lakes. US Bur. Sport. Fish. Wildl. Tech. Pap. 25: 1–15.
Feminella, J. W. & V. H. Resh, 1989. Submersed macrophytes and grazing crayfish: an experimental study of herbivory in a Californian freshwater marsh. Holarct. Ecol. 12: 1–8.
Flanagan, P. J. & P. F. Toner, 1975. A preliminary study of Irish lakes. Dublin, An Foras Forbartha.
Flint, R. W. & C. R. Goldman, 1975. The effects of a benthic grazer on the primary production of the littoral zone of Lake Tahoe. Limnol. Oceanogr. 20: 935–944.
Goddard, J. S., 1988. Food and feeding. Chapter 6, pp. 145–166, in: Holdich, D. & R. Lowery (eds), Freshwater crayfish; biology, management and exploitation. Croom Helm, London.
Laurent, P.-J., 1988. Austropotamobius pallipes and A. torrentium, with observations on their interaction with other species in Europe. Chapter 13, pp. 341–364, in: Holdich, D. & R. Lowery (eds), Freshwater crayfish; biology, management and exploitation. Croom Helm, London.
Lodge, D. M., K. M. Brown, S. P. Klosiewski, R. A. Stein, A. P. Covich, B. K. Leathers & C. Bronmark, 1987. Distribution of freshwater snails: spatial scale and the relative importance of physicochemical and biotic factors. Amer. Malacol. Bull. 5: 73–84.
Lodge, D. M. & J. G. Lorman, 1987. Reductions in submersed macrophyte biomass and species richness by the crayfish Orconectes rusticus. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 44: 591–597.
Lorman, J. G. & J. J. Magnuson, 1978. The role of crayfish in aquatic ecosystems. Fisheries 3: 8–19.
Lucey, J. & M. L. McGarrigle, 1987. The distribution of the crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes (Lereboullet) in Ireland. Irish Fish. Invest. A 29: 3–13.
Magnuson, J. J., G. M. Capelli, J. G. Lorman & R. A. Stein, 1975. Consideration of crayfish for macrophyte control, pp. 66–74 in: Brezonik, P. L. & J. L. Fox (eds), Proceedings of a symposium on water quality management through biological control. Rep. No. ENV 05-75-1, Univ. Florida, Gainsville.
Matthews, M. A. & J. D. Reynolds, 1990. Laboratory investigations of the pathogenicity of Aphanomyces astaci for Irish freshwater crayfish. Hydrobiologia 203: 121–126.
Mees, C. C., 1983. Ecology and pollution studies of the British crayfish. PhD thesis, Department of Zoology, University of Nottingham.
Momot, W. T., 1984. Crayfish production: a reflection of community energetics. J. Crustacean Biol. 4: 35–54.
Momot, W. T., H. Gowing & P. D. Jones, 1978. The dynamics of crayfish and their role in ecosystems. Amer. Midl. Nat. 99: 10–35.
Moriarty, C., 1971. The crayfish Astacus pallipes of an Irish lake. Ir. Fish. Invest. 6(A): 12–20.
O'Keeffe, C., 1986. The ecology of two populations of the freshwater crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes (Lereboullet) in Ireland. PhD Thesis, Department of Zoology, University of Dublin, 254 p.
Reynolds, J. D., 1979. Crayfish ecology in Ireland. Freshwat. Crayfish 4: 215–220.
Reynolds, J. D., 1982. Notes on the Irish distribution of the freshwater crayfish. Bull. Ir. biogeog. Soc. 6: 18–24.
Reynolds, J. D., 1988. Crayfish extinctions and crayfish plague in Ireland. Biol. Cons. 45: 279–285.
Saiki, M. K. & J. C. Tash, 1979. Use of cover and dispersal by crayfish to reduce predation by largemouth bass. pp. 44–48 in: Johnson, D. L. & R. A. Stein (eds), Response of fish to habitat structure in standing water. Am. Fish. Soc. Spec. Pub. 6.
Unestam, T., 1973. Significance of diseases in freshwater crayfish. Freshwat. Crayfish 1: 135–150.
Woodlock, B. & J. D. Reynolds, 1988. Reproduction in an Irish lake population of the crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes (Lereboullet). Freshwat. Biol. 19: 79–86.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Matthews, M., Reynolds, J.D. Ecological impact of crayfish plague in Ireland. Hydrobiologia 234, 1–6 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00010773
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00010773