Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Ecosystem effects of invasive crayfish increase with crayfish density

Galib, S.M.; Sun, J.; Gröcke, D.R.; Lucas, M.C.

Ecosystem effects of invasive crayfish increase with crayfish density Thumbnail


Authors

S.M. Galib

J. Sun



Abstract

1. The nature and extent of effects of increasing densities of non-native species on stream ecosystems remain poorly understood. Non-native crayfish are among the most invasive aquatic species and we hypothesised that, in temperate streams, the extent of trophic modification increases with non-native crayfish density. 2. Instream flow-through mesocosms in the River Lune, north-east England, were used over a 47-day period in summer to measure density effects of invasive signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus on different ecosystem components (benthic fish, macroinvertebrates, algal biomass, and leaf litter breakdown). Effects were measured through three density treatments (low, medium, and high; four, eight, or 12 crayfish with five bullhead Cottus perifretum per 1.5 m2) and two control (crayfish and fish absent; crayfish absent and benthic fish present) groups. 3. Impacts of crayfish on macroinvertebrates (density, taxonomic composition), fish (growth, diet), algal standing stock, and decomposition rates increased with crayfish density. Direct effects of increased crayfish density were more important than indirect trophic cascade effects. 4. Despite similar invertebrate abundance and richness across enclosures before introducing crayfish and bullhead, they differed significantly from controls at the end of the study, with >80% reduction in macroinvertebrate abundance recorded in the high-density group. Stable isotope (δ15N, δ13C) analysis showed that the trophic niche of bullhead, but not signal crayfish, changed when the species were in sympatry. Bullhead in treatment enclosures occupied a lower trophic position in the food web than those from the control group. Bullhead in the high-density group lost 4.2% of body mass over the study period, confirming the existence of resource competition. Leaf litter break down was 59.2% faster, and algal biomass was 91.4% lower in the treatment with the highest crayfish density compared to the control without study animals. 5. This study indicates that signal crayfish, even at a low density, can strongly alter multiple ecosystem components in streams, and emphasises the need for minimising the spread of invasive crayfish within and between streams.

Citation

Galib, S., Sun, J., Gröcke, D., & Lucas, M. (2022). Ecosystem effects of invasive crayfish increase with crayfish density. Freshwater Biology, 67(6), 1005-1019. https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.13897

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Feb 18, 2022
Online Publication Date Mar 11, 2022
Publication Date 2022-06
Deposit Date Mar 23, 2022
Publicly Available Date Mar 11, 2023
Journal Freshwater Biology
Print ISSN 0046-5070
Electronic ISSN 1365-2427
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 67
Issue 6
Pages 1005-1019
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.13897
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1209412

Files

Accepted Journal Article (1.2 Mb)
PDF

Copyright Statement
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Galib, S.M., Sun, J., Gröcke, D.R. & Lucas, M.C. (2022). Ecosystem effects of invasive crayfish increase with crayfish density. Freshwater Biology 67(6): 1005-1019., which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.13897. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.






You might also like



Downloadable Citations