Interactions between three species of crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes, Astacus astacus and Pacifastacus leniusculus)
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Abstract
Experiments were carried out over five months in large, outdoor, concrete tanks to assess the survival of Austropotamobius pallipes in the presence of Astacus leptodactylus or Pacifastacus leniusculus, and the survival of these two introduced species when kept together. Monospecific and mixed species colonies of adult crayfish were set up at initial densities of 14 m-2 and monitored monthly. In monospecific tanks numbers declined with time due to cannibalism, particularly in the case of P. leniusculus. In tanks containing P. leniusculus and A. pallipes or P. leniusculus and A. leptodactylus, there was a significantly greater reduction in numbers of A. pallipes and A. leptodactylus than in their respective monospecific control tanks, although the latter two species appeared to have little impact upon each other. Interspecific mating experiments resulted in successful egg laying by most combinations of male and female A. pallipes, A. leptodactylus and P. leniusculus, the exception being male A. pallipes with female P. leniusculus. However, within a few weeks all eggs had been lost except for female A. leptodactylus mated by male A. pallipes or P. leniusculus, where a few eggs were retained for 20 weeks but did not develop. The implications of these results for the future survival of A. pallipes in Britain are discussed.
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Holdich DM, Reader JP, Rogers WD and Harlioglu M. (1995). Interactions between three species of crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes, Astacus astacus and Pacifastacus leniusculus) . Freshwater Crayfish 10(1):46-56. doi:
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