Abstract
Currently, the distribution of the European native white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) is restricted, fragmented and mainly located in headwater streams. Many European countries have active programmes for its conservation and some also have reintroduction programmes. Here, we used the ephemeropteran communities as a bioindicator of A. pallipes presence. Results from 36 brooks showed that the ephemeropteran richness is statistically higher in sites with crayfish compared to sites without crayfish. We propose using two Leptophlebiidae species (Habrophlebia lauta and Paraleptophlebia submarginata) as bioindicators of crayfish presence.
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Acknowledgments
This study was funded by the CPER (Contrat de Plan Etat Region) Programme Transversal Eau, University of Poitiers, We are grateful to the members of ONEMA (Office National de l’Eau et des Milieux Aquatiques) SD79) for field assistance. Special thanks are due to Julian Reynolds and two anonymous reviewers for their help and their useful suggestions.
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Grandjean, F., Jandry, J., Bardon, E. et al. Use of Ephemeroptera as bioindicators of the occurrence of white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes). Hydrobiologia 671, 253–258 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-011-0717-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-011-0717-1