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Freshwater crayfish are amongst the largest macroinvertebrates and play a keystone role in the ecosystems they occupy. Understanding the global distribution of these animals is often hindered due to a paucity of distributional data. Additionally, non-native crayfish introductions are becoming more frequent, which can cause severe environmental and economic impacts. Management decisions related to crayfish and their habitats require accurate, up-to-date distribution data and mapping tools. Such data are currently patchily distributed with limited accessibility and are rarely up-to-date. To address these challenges, we developed a versatile e-portal to host distributional data of freshwater crayfish and their pathogens (using Aphanomyces astaci, the causative agent of the crayfish plague, as the most prominent example). Populated with expert data and operating in near real-time, World of Crayfish™ is a living, publicly available database providing worldwide distributional data sourced by experts in the field. The database offers open access to the data through specialized standard geospatial services (Web Map Service, Web Feature Service) enabling users to view, embed, and download customizable outputs for various applications. The platform is designed to support technical enhancements in the future, with the potential to eventually incorporate various additional features. This tool serves as a step forward towards a modern era of conservation planning and management of freshwater biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater crayfish are amongst the largest macroinvertebrates and play a keystone role in the ecosystems they occupy. Understanding the global distribution of these animals is often hindered due to a paucity of distributional data. Additionally, non-native crayfish introductions are becoming more frequent, which can cause severe environmental and economic impacts. Management decisions related to crayfish and their habitats require accurate, up-to-date distribution data and mapping tools. Such data are currently patchily distributed with limited accessibility and are rarely up-to-date. To address these challenges, we developed a versatile e-portal to host distributional data of freshwater crayfish and their pathogens (using Aphanomyces astaci, the causative agent of the crayfish plague, as the most prominent example). Populated with expert data and operating in near real-time, World of Crayfish™ is a living, publicly available database providing worldwide distributional data sourced by experts in the field. The database offers open access to the data through specialized standard geospatial services (Web Map Service, Web Feature Service) enabling users to view, embed, and download customizable outputs for various applications. The platform is designed to support technical enhancements in the future, with the potential to eventually incorporate various additional features. This tool serves as a step forward towards a modern era of conservation planning and management of freshwater biodiversity.

This study investigates epibiont communities, including both protozoan and metazoan species, associated with Astacus leptodactylus in the Shiyan Dam reservoir situated in the Kermanshah province of western Iran. A total of 220 crayfish were collected for comprehensive parasitological surveys, targeting various body parts, including the gills, exoskeleton, mouth cavity, and internal organs. Protozoan species identified included Cothurnia sieboldii, Chilodonella sp., Vorticella similis, Zoothamnium sp., and Pyxicola annulata. In the metazoan category, notable species consisted of Branchiobdella kozarovi (Annelida), Philodina acuticornis (Rotatoria), Rabdochona sp. (Nematoda), and Mesocyclops strennus (Copepoda). P. acuticornis exhibited the highest prevalence among gill epibionts at 18.2%, while Chilodonella sp. showed the lowest prevalence at 0.9%. The study also revealed seasonal variations, with the highest infestation occurring in spring (82%), and the lowest in winter (24%). This research presents the first documented evidence of epibionts on A. leptodactylus in western Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Native crayfish predominantly inhabit partially to highly fragmented freshwaters. • Native crayfish populations face moderate to high levels of threat. • Large uninvaded river sections can potentially be occupied by signal crayfish. Indigenous crayfish species (ICS) have suffered a significant decline in recent decades due to various threats including anthropogenic habitat degradation with resulting fragmentation, and the introduction of non-indigenous crayfish species (NICS). However, only a few studies have assessed and quantified these threats on a broad landscape scale. We aim to highlight the impact of these interacting pressures within the Sava and Drava basins in Slovenia, Croatia, and Hungary. Our aims were to (1) asses the fragmentation caused by artificial and natural barriers; (2) calculate a threat index using fragmentation, spatial distances to established NICS populations, urban settlements and roads; (3) conduct current habitat suitability modeling (HSM) using various biotic and abiotic environmental parameters. The target species in this area are the ICS Astacus astacus , Austropotamobius torrentium and Pontastacus leptodactylus as well as the invasive NICS Pacifastacus leniusculus and Faxonius limosus. Our analyses revealed that the Croatian and Hungarian segments of the Drava and Sava basins exhibit relatively low fragmentation levels, whereas the Slovenian basins are highly fragmented mainly due to a dense hydropower network. All ICS populations within each sub-basin in the study area are moderately to highly threatened according to our threat index calculation. The HSM showed, that only 14.1% and 11.6% of freshwater habitats are suitable for A. torrentium and A. astacus , respectively. In contrast, NICS could occupy substantial portions (up to 22%) of the total riverscape. The results affirmed the highly alarming situation, as native crayfish were once widely distributed across less unfragmented freshwaters of the Danube basin. Our analyses and findings will be helpful to enhance the existing frameworks for safeguarding the remaining ICS populations, predicting the possible spread of NICS, and help to improve sustainable management practices for freshwater ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1980s, certain hemispherical structures discovered in Upper Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian) deposits of Patagonia have been interpreted as crushing teeth, variously attributed to indeterminate Teleostei or the semionotiform genus Lepidotes. This study examines the morphological, microscopic, and mineralogical characteristics of these structures, collected from the Allen, Los Alamitos, La Colonia, Loncoche, and Chorrillo formations, and compares them with modern and fossil fish crushing teeth. The external morphology, internal structure, and mineralogical composition (primarily phosphates and carbonates) of these structures, as analyzed in this study, correspond to crustacean bio-gastroliths rather than actinopterygian teeth. Microscopically, all examined gastroliths display a uniform banding pattern, while actinopterygian crushing teeth exhibit a two-layer organization with abundant dentinal tubules. These findings enhance our understanding of the distribution of crustaceans that produce gastroliths and also provide new insights into how taphonomic processes influence the mineralogical and microscopic structures of fossil gastroliths. • Fossil bio-gastroliths in rocks of the Upper Cretaceous of Patagonia. • Anatomical, microscopic, and mineralogical studies of fossil bio-gastroliths. • Bio-gastroliths from the Cretaceous of Patagonia: Analysis from multiple perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We outline a framework for evaluating scientific evidence of sentience, focusing on pain experience. It includes eight neural and cognitive-behavioural criteria, with confidence levels for each criterion reflecting the reliability and quality of the evidence. We outline the rationale for each criterion and apply our framework to a controversial sentience candidate: decapod crustaceans. We have either high or very high confidence that true crabs (infraorder Brachyura) satisfy five criteria, amounting to strong evidence of sentience. Moreover, we have high confidence that both anomuran crabs (infraorder Anomura) and astacid lobsters/crayfish (infraorder Astacidea) meet three criteria--substantial evidence of sentience. The case is, as yet, weaker for other infraorders, such as penaeid shrimps, highlighting important research gaps. Having demonstrated our framework's application to decapod crustaceans, we hope that future research will apply it to other taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although a large number of rivers stretches in Southeast Europe (SEE) have a pristine status compared to the rest of Europe, these ecosystems and their freshwater biodiversity are perceptibly threatened. Since crayfish species are known to cover a wide spectrum of ecological functions they are considered as keystone species and ecosystem engineers. Therefore, their decline may substantially impair local biodiversity and ecosystem services. In this manuscript we present a brief overview of the status of the native freshwater crayfish and their habitats in SEE. Different forms of physical habitat degradation as well as invasive alien crayfish species and their pathogens (e.g., Aphanomyces astaci) are simultaneously threatening endangered populations all over SEE. Even though all native crayfish species are listed in the IUCN Red List, so far none of the 33 LIFE rehabilitation projects performed in SEE, has crayfish as target species in their agenda. Furthermore, SEE countries rarely designated Natura 2000 sites for native crayfish. We propose future studies to assess the distribution and functional role of crayfish species in SEE, as well as to develop habitat suitability models for these species during future conservation projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Branchiobdella bulgariensis sp. n. is described from the River Topolnitza near the village of Dushantzi, Bulgaria. The main morphological character distinguishing the new species from Branchiobdella parasita (Braun, 1805) is the form of the spermatheca with spermathecal ampulla consisting of almost spherical proximal part and a narrower cylindrical or bulb-like distal part. In contrast, B. parasita is characterised by oval spermatheca. Another feature distinguishing these two species from one another is the form of peristomium: in B. bulgariensis, the dorsal lip of peristomium has four lobes while, in B. parasita, the peristomium is "simple, thin-skinned" (Braun, 1805) and "bears eight micro-tentacles" (Henle, 1835). The only known host of B. bulgariensis sp. n. is Austropotamobius torrentium. The new species has been found so far at several sites in Bulgaria and unknown locality in Slovakia. An unusual character for the order Branchiobdellida is described, i.e. ontogenetic development of jaws of B. bulgariensis resulting in a different shape of these structures in specimens of different age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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At the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina Austropotamobius pallipes (Lereboullet, 1858) is present mainly in the Neretva basin, partly in the Una and Tsetina river basins (Trožić-Borovac et al., 2012). This species was registered at elevations from 180 to 1024 m a. s. l., but most habitats are located at elevations from 300 to 600 m a. s. l. Based on indirect data, one can state that more than 2/3 of the crayfish population in the Neretva basin is concentrated in the Neretvica basin. Our studies showed that the crayfish are very irregularly distributed in the Neretvica basin. The crayfish are almost absent at well-flushed habitats without CPOM (deposits of coarse particulate organic matter, e. g., fallen leaves), as well as at habitats with monotonous boulders or gravel-sand bottom. The study of the size structure of the crayfish population showed the presence of juvenile crayfish with a size of less than 5 cm in the Neretvica River course. The most balanced structure of the crayfish population represented by juvenile as well as adult species is observed in Gorovnik. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The pleopodal fecundity of Pontastacus leptodactylus from Hirfanlı Dam (Turkey) was investigated. Reproductive period, length at first maturity, as well as the number, weight and diameter of pleopodal eggs were determined. The study was conducted monthly at six different stations from June 2017 to May 2018. Berried females were observed between December and May. L50 length at first maturity of the female crayfish population in the lake was estimated as 9.04 cm and this value is below the applied 10 cm Minimum Landing Size (MLS). The mean egg number of the population was 240.18, the mean egg weight was 0.0122 g and the mean egg diameter was 2.702 mm. While an increase in female total length had a positive effect on mean total egg number, sampling period (progressive incubation period from December to May) caused negative effects. The mean total egg number for 1 mm total length was found to be 2.18. When the mean pleopodal egg number of the crayfish population in Hirfanlı Dam Lake was compared with populations of P. leptodactylus in other localities it was concluded that the stock is quite productive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Knowledge & Management of Aquatic Ecosystems is the property of EDP Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Recent phylogeographic study pointed to the existence of highly divergent and endemic populations of the crayfish genus Austropotamobius in the Apuseni Mountains, Romania. These populations may have split ∼15 Ma from the Dinarides and evolved in isolation due to the tectonic north-eastern movement of the Tisza-Dacia mega-unit (including the Apuseni Mountains) through the Pannonian Basin during the Miocene. Molecular and morphological evidence supports that these populations are a new species of crayfish, Austropotamobius bihariensis n. sp, named for the region of Biharia. The bPTP approach supported a new species clade by 0.89 Bayesian Support Value, diverging from the sister clade of Austropotamobius torrentium (haplogroup ZV) by 43 mutational steps in 582 base length nucleotides of COI mtDNA sequences. The differentiating morphological features are the lack of denticulation on the lower edge of the antennal scale, a significantly shorter bell-shaped rostrum, and fewer tubercles on the chelae palms than its relative. Its distribution is geographically restricted to upper sectors of the Criș rivers basins, western Apuseni Mountains, Romania and it prefers cleaner waters than A. torrentium. Conservation measures are highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As North American crayfish biodiversity becomes increasingly imperiled, the ambiguous nature of the current taxonomic framework can impede conservation efforts. The taxonomy of the family Cambaridae Hobbs, 1942 has historically been based on morphology, but recent studies using molecular phylogenetic techniques have revealed taxonomic inconsistencies, including a polyphyletic Cambarus Erichson, 1846. We took a step towards increasing the taxonomic resolution of Cambaridae by investigating a group of primary burrowing crayfishes which were historically part of the Cambarus subgenera Lacunicambarus Hobbs, 1969 and Tubericambarus Jezerinac, 1993. This group, here called the devil crayfish group (DCG) because it includes the devil crayfish (Cambarus diogenes Girard, 1852), has a confusing taxonomic history and is in need of revision to inform conservation assessments. We tested the hypothesis that the DCG is monophyletic through phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequence data from multiple specimens of the eight DCG species and a broad sample of taxa representing approximately 70% of the species in what is currently recognized as Cambarus. Seven of the eight species from the DCG form a well-supported, monophyletic group that is distinct from the remainder of what has traditionally been recognized as Cambarus. Our analyses place the DCG as sister to a clade consisting of taxa from Creaserinus Hobbs, 1973, Faxonius Ortmann, 1905, and Barbicambarus Hobbs, 1969. Based on our results and on unique morphological and ecological characteristics, we split seven of the eight DCG species from Cambarus and elevate the subgenus Lacunicambarus to generic level to accommodate them. We redescribe Lacunicambarus and the devil crayfish sensu stricto (Lacunicambarus diogenes comb. nov.) and designate a neotype for the species to facilitate subsequent revisionary work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Henri de Saussure described 44 species of decapod; these are listed, the location of the type specimens is given where known and the current nomenclatural combination is given. Type specimens of 34 of the species have been identified in the collections of the Museum d'histoire naturelle de Geneve, and label data and the condition of the specimens are reported for each of these. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a study of the hemolymph vascular system of the marbled crayfish, Procambarus fallax f. virginalis , the only crayfish species known to be parthenogenetic. To identify potential evolutionary patterns, we compared data from a total of 48 specimens of P. fallax with 22 specimens of Orconectes limosus . Visualizations (2D and 3D) were carried out using a combination of classical and modern morphological techniques. Our data were compared to the existing literature. Like all Decapoda, both P. fallax and O. limosus have a hemolymph vascular system, consisting of a globular heart with seven off-branching arteries. We were able to visualize in detail the heart of crayfish for the first time, i.e., the myocard with its clusters of muscles running through the lumen of the heart, the valves and flaps of ostia and arteries. Furthermore, the branching patterns of the seven artery systems were analyzed. Anatomical structures identified to be consistent in all specimens of both species were combined as ground pattern of hemolymph vascular system features for Astacida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes (Lereboullet, 1858) are one of five crayfish species indigenous to Europe, and the only crayfish species to occur in Ireland. With no known invasive species posing a risk, the Irish population is of considerable conservation importance, particularly in a European context. While there are a number of capture techniques described for crayfish population studies, many have a number of limitations associated with them. There is a need therefore to evaluate new and emerging techniques, so as to assess their efficacy for monitoring A. pallipes populations. Artificial refuge traps (ARTs), an alternative passive capture method, were evaluated against three other widely used capture techniques during the summer months of 2015. Results indicate ARTs to be an effective technique for sampling crayfish, and suggest that, in combination with other capture methods, ARTs could depict accurate population structures, and reduce some of the sampling effort and bias associated with crayfish monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasions of the rusty crayfish Orconectes rusticus (Girard, 1852) in lakes have led to the local extirpation of resident crayfishes and altered littoral communities. The spread of O. rusticus into streams poses an equally serious threat to the biodiversity of resident crayfishes and fishes. We found that O. rusticus in northern Wisconsin streams were significantly smaller than O. rusticus from lakes (P < 0.001) and not significantly different than Faxonius propinquus (Girard, 1852) (P < 0.001) from lakes or streams. We tested time to reach a limited food resource, performance, in 4 water velocities, 5, 30, 50, and 66 cm sec-1, in a laboratory flume. Performance of O. rusticus and F. propinquus did not differ within water velocities, but was reduced in water velocities of 50 and 66 cm sec-1. Performance also did not differ between large and small O. rusticus within water velocity treatments but was also reduced at 50 and 66 cm sec-1. Performance of O. rusticus and F. propinquus from lakes, however, was significantly lower than that of O. rusticus from streams (P < 0.05). In all experiments, performance of crayfish in the 66 cm sec-1 treatment was below 50%, suggesting that this is a critical water velocity for O. rusticus and F. propinquus. Our results also suggest that stream segments with high velocities may reduce upstream dispersal rates of O. rusticus from lakes thus potentially reducing the spread to upstream lake ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Nova Acta Científica Compostelana is the property of Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Servicio de Publicaciones and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The taxonomic classification of European crayfish is neither fully examined nor generally accepted as a unifying scheme. At present, one of the most obvious differences exists between astacologists from Western and Eastern Europe. In the present paper, an analysis of the information published on the systematics of European crayfish over the last decades was conducted against the background of own observations on features with importance for the systematics of narrow-clawed crayfish (Astacus (Pontastacus) leptodactylus) from Poland. The objective of this analysis was to standardize the nomenclature of European crayfish at the level of genera. The presented proposal for a taxonomy recognizes three genera within the family Astacidae in Europe: Austropotamobius, Astacus, and Pontastacus. The main (morphological, zoogeographical and ecological) criteria for considering the genus Pontastacus a separate genus are of a discriminatory strength similar to the widely accepted criteria for the separation of the genus Austropotamobius. Further studies on the taxonomy and ecology of crayfish from eastern Europe using modern techniques such as molecular genetics are strongly recommended.

Austropotamobius torrentium (SCHRANK, 1803) is the smallest of the European native crayfish species and has probably never been of economic interest. It is confined to headwaters and adapted to cold water with high flow through and rocky environments. These properties make the stone crayfish a useful species for population genetics and phylogeographic studies. Representatives were collected from 18 localities throughout southern Germany and analysed with two mitochondrial genetic markers. Initial results revealed that German populations of A. torrentium from the Danube and Rhine tributaries share identical haplotypes in 528 basepairs of 16S rRNA and 658 basepairs of the COI gene. Rare haplotypes of the COI genes were occasionally encountered and apparently restricted to southwestern Bavaria. Only three variable sites were found over a length of 658 basepairs in 45 German, Swiss and Austrian stone crayfish resulting in five different haplotypes, with the prevalence of one most common haplotype. Here we show that in German populations rare haplotypes are not randomly distributed, but found in higher frequencies in the Bavarian Alps of the Allgäu and in adjacent Tyrol. On the other hand, stone crayfish population from the Bavarian Forest and the Rhine tributaries appear genetically impoverished, so far only showing the most common haplotype. Consequently, there are significant differences between the Allgäu populations and the rest of the German populations in haplotype frequencies, resulting in a relatively high FST value. This finding is of importance for future conservation efforts of stone crayfish populations in Germany and Austria.

In Bavarian freshwater systems, the stone crayfish Austropotamobius torrentium is still present in many headwaters of Danubian tributaries. Since the 1960s an alien species, the signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus, was introduced several times independently in Germany. Compared to the previously introduced Orconectes limosus, this species also invaded higher reaches of freshwater streams, thereby becoming a direct competitor of A. torrentium. In addition, it carried the crayfish plague, Aphanomyces astaci, which is lethal to European species. So far, there are only few documented populations of Pacifastacus leniusculus from upper streams in Bavaria and to our knowledge no reports of coexistence with the stone crayfish, which may be outcompeted by this much larger species due to direct interactions or reproductive superiority. In this study, we document the distribution of the stone crayfish in Bavaria and give evidence for a contact zone of Austropotamobius torrentium and apparently uninfected Pacifastacus leniusculus in the western Bavarian Forest, with a limited range of overlap and a slow upward displacement of the native species in the time frame of three years. Comparative studies of reproductive biology in the field and in the laboratory showed higher fecundity, faster juvenile growth and earlier hatching of the introduced species. These new aspects of the biology of the two involved species suggest an ecological superiority of P. leniusculus and may explain the long-term displacement of the native species, even in the absence of the crayfish plague Aphanomyces astaci.

The stone crayfish Austropotamobius torrentium (Schrank, 1803) is widely distributed in Southeastern and Central Europe. However, this information has not been verified until recently because of: • ignorance about biogeographic notion and hydrography and • ignorance of data in the literature. Overcoming these problems during the last decade, the distribution pattern of the stone crayfish has now become apparent in Europe. It is known from Luxembourg and Germany to the west, from Turkey to the east, from Germany and the Czech Republic to the north and from Greece to the south. It is absent in the northeastern part of the Pannonian basin as well as in Poland and Ukraine. Its presence in Luxembourg and the Czech Republic may be related not to natural distribution but to introduction by humans through history. The discovery of the stone crayfish in Italy and Turkey as well as its re-discovery in France during the 1990s proves the biogeographic conception that this animal belongs to the Danubian fauna. It probably originates from the southwestern part of the Pannonian basin.

L’habitat préférentiel des écrevisses à pattes blanches Austropotamobius pallipes (Lereboullet, 1858) a été analysé dans trois cours d’eau de Corrèze, grâce à la combinaison de trois méthodes de capture (pêche au filet de type Surber, pêche électrique et pêche à la main de nuit). Parmi ces méthodes, la plus efficace pour la capture des juvéniles s’est avérée être le filet de type Surber, qui a permis la capture de 536 individus. Suite à cette étude, il apparaît que les écrevisses adultes recherchent de préférence les berges constituées de racines ou avec des cavités, les blocs, les galets, la végétation aquatique et les souches pour s’abriter durant le jour, tandis qu’elles fréquentent préférentiellement les graviers, les galets et les blocs pendant leurs déplacements nocturnes. Les juvéniles s’abritent de préférence dans les galets, les blocs, les végétaux aquatiques et les berges composées d’amas de radicelles. Dans certains cas, la réduction, voire la disparition d’un habitat particulièrement favorable aux juvéniles peut être compensée par une colonisation plus importante d’autres habitats habituellement délaissés.

Biological invasions are a key threat to freshwater biodiversity, and identifying determinants of invasion success is a global conservation priority. The establishment of introduced species is predicted to be hindered by pre-existing, functionally similar invasive species. Over a five-year period we, however, find that in the River Lee (UK), recently introduced non-native virile crayfish (Orconectes virilis) increased in range and abundance, despite the presence of established alien signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus). In regions of sympatry, virile crayfish had a detrimental effect on signal crayfish abundance but not vice versa. Competition experiments revealed that virile crayfish were more aggressive than signal crayfish and outcompeted them for shelter. Together, these results provide early evidence for the potential over-invasion of signal crayfish by competitively dominant virile crayfish. Based on our results and the limited distribution of virile crayfish in Europe, we recommend that efforts to contain them within the Lee catchment be implemented immediately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Les populations d'Austropotamobius pallipes ont été analysées sur deux sites d'un ruisseau forestier de Normandie, au cours de six années pour le site aval et de cinq années pour le site amont. Au début de chaque automne des échantillons ont été prélevés à l'aide de filets à mailles fines (3 mm), après avoir délogés les animaux en remuant le substrat. Comme cette technique est peu sélective les juvéniles de l'année sont capturés. Un codage différentiel par coupure des différentes parties de la queue a permis de suivre l'évolution des cohortes. Des résultats acquis, il est possible de définir des classes d'âge et de calculer les tailles moyennes des individus de chaque classe pour suivre l'évolution de la croissance. L'augmentation de la taille est régulière et suit un modèle linéaire avec le temps. La croissance est faible (10,6 à 18,8 mm par an), les individus au-delà de 90 mm sont très rares. La durée de vie est de 5 à 6 ans en aval, 4 à 5 ans en amont, la reproduction débutant la 3ème année. La période de croissance est réduite aux mois d'été, elle est maximum la 2ème et 3ème années. La croissance en 2ème et 3ème années est inversement proportionnelle à celle acquise l'année précédente. La croissance est plus forte en amont du ruisseau qu'en aval, avec une séparation plus nette des cohortes, mais il existe un étalement plus grand de celles-ci en relation avec une température plus élevée. La variabilité interannuelle de l'étalement des cohortes est plus faible en amont pour un taux de croissance plus variable. La variabilité des tailles augmente avec l'âge ; elle se stabilise ensuite, alors que le taux de croissance se réduit. Au cours de l'étude la taille a tendance à augmenter et les différences intercohortes à se réduire, en relation avec des hivers plus doux. Le sex-ratio est équilibré ; la croissance des mâles est plus élevée que celle des femelles en aval, alors qu'en amont la croissance des deux sexes est comparable. Cette étude montre que dans un même ruisseau, des stations peu éloignées peuvent avoir des populations qui présentent des évolutions différentes, malgré un environnement a priori stabilisé par le couvert forestier. Austropotamobius pallipes paraît être très sensible aux variations thermiques et, par conséquent, l'étude à long terme de sa croissance pourrait être un bon indicateur des changements climatiques.

Patterns of diversity and faunal turnover of major groups of decapod crustaceans throughout the Phanerozoic are analyzed based upon data from all known fossil species reported to date. Age, range, and habitat preference data were compiled for 3637 species arrayed in 1035 genera and 173 families. Grouped at the infraordinal level, Anomura, Gebiidea, and Axiidea consistently occupied specific, preferred environments throughout their geologic history. Achelata are known from a variety of siliciclastic environments until the Holocene when they are found in coral and other carbonate environments. Habitat preferences of dendrobranch and pleocyemate shrimp, with a low preservation potential, are difficult to evaluate because they are found almost exclusively in low energy siliciclastics and lithographic limestones, whose mode of origin is not clear. Clawed lobsters, the so-called podotreme or primitive crabs, and heterotreme crabs have historically occupied a wide range of habitats. However, the temporal pattern of diversity of these groups is one of faunal turnover on a scale of tens of millions of years. Clawed lobsters were the first of these groups to be most diverse, followed in the Late Jurassic and Cretaceous by the podotreme or primitive crabs. Heterotreme crabs appeared in the Early Cretaceous and dominate numerically in the Cenozoic. These patterns of habitat preference of broad groups of decapods suggest that the limits of distribution are controlled by the Bauplan of each group rather than by extrinsic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crayfish are charismatic creatures of high interest to humans, among others playing key roles in freshwater ecosystems. Considering the significance of indigenous crayfish species (ICS) as well as the risks posed by non-indigenous crayfish species (NICS) that may dissemite a crayfish plague pathogen Aphanomyces astaci, astacological research has advanced particularly in Europe. In this context, crayfish distribution patterns are of fundamental importance. Focused on all crayfish established in the Greek wild, we provide an updated distribution and maps, combining extensive review of existing literature as well as newly emerging sources, largely represented by increasingly important citizen-science data. Obtained results demonstrate that ICS, mainly the Astacus astacus and Austropotamobius torrentium, remain relatively well settled in the country. The last ICS, Astacus leptodactylus, was translocated in few places outside its native range, leading to the formation of new flourishing populations and at least in one case it sustains commercial exploitation. Concerning NICS, a single population of Pacifastacus leniusculus is also established in the artificial lake Agra (Region of Central Macedonia) and keeps spreading. Unfortunately, there are only few methods under a very narrow range of conditions making successful eradication of unwanted NICS populations feasible. This option is even more difficult as this population is commercially exploited and traded. Since further potentially problematic NICS are also pet-traded in the country, educating public and communicating highlighted issues are the most effective ways limiting their releases and consecutive establishment in the wild.

Sarcoplasmic calcium binding protein (SCP) is a high-affinity calcium buffering protein expressed in muscle of crayfish and other invertebrates. In previous work, we identified three splice variants of Procambarus clarkii SCP (pcSCP1a, pcSCP1b, and pcSCP1c) that differ in a 37 amino acid region that lies mainly between the 2nd and 3ed EF-hand calcium binding domain. To evaluate the function of the proteins encoded by the pcSCP1 transcripts, we produced recombinant pcSCP1 and used tryptophan fluorescence to characterize calcium binding. Tryptophan fluorescence of pcSCP1a decreased in response to increased calcium, while tryptophan fluorescence of the pcSCP1b and pcSCP1c variants increased. We estimated calcium binding constants and Hill coefficients with two different equations: the standard Hill equation and a modified Hill equation that accounts for contributions from two different tryptophans. The approaches gave similar results. Steady-state calcium binding constants (K d ) ranged from 2.7 ± 0.7 × 10 − 8 M to 5.6 ± 0.1 × 10 − 7 M, consistent with previous work. Variants displayed significantly different apparent calcium affinities, which were decreased in the presence of magnesium. Calcium K d was lowest for pcSCP1a and highest for pcSCP1c. Site-directed mutagenesis of pcSCP1c residues to the amino acids of pcSCP1b decreased the calcium K d , identifying residues outside the EF-hand domains that contribute to calcium binding in crayfish SCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonality in the immune defence of invertebrates can coincide with environmental variation but whether it is endogenously regulated, via biological clocks, or affected by previous immune challenges remains unclear. Using the native noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) held under constant laboratory conditions for a year, we explored (1) potential endogenous seasonal variation in immune defence, i.e. the encapsulation response, (2) the potential positive effect of repeated challenges with a standardized immune insult in subsequent seasons, i.e. long-lasting immune priming, and (3) whether long-lasting immune priming is dependent on endogenous seasonality. Independent measurements of the encapsulation response in different seasons revealed significant variation and a decrease in autumn. This result indicates previously undetected endogenous seasonal variation in invertebrate immunity. The weaker immune defence observed in autumn, i.e. the reproductive season of crayfish, might be caused by a circannual clock. When corrected for endogenous seasonality, we found no evidence for long-lasting immune priming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of practical diets with different levels of vitamin A on survival and growth of juvenile crayfish ( Pacifastacus leniusculus). An 80-day trial was conducted with stage 2 juveniles from the onset of exogenous feeding. Four diets differing in the level of retinyl acetate were tested: 0, 0.0025, 0.0050 or 0.0100 g kg−1 diet, equivalent to 0, 2500, 5000 or 10 000 IU vitamin A kg−1 diet, respectively. Each diet was tested on grouped or individually isolated crayfish. Crayfish fed the diet with 5000 or 10 000 IU vitamin A kg−1 diet achieved the highest survival (average of grouped and isolated: 88.9%) and growth (grouped and isolated: 13.45 mm carapace length, 533.4 mg weight). Final growth of isolated crayfish was significantly higher than that of grouped crayfish for all diets. This study provides the first data on vitamin A requirements of freshwater crayfish. A level of 5000 IU vitamin A kg−1 can be recommended for juvenile P. leniusculus during the first period of intensive rearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus (Girard, 1852), is native to the Ohio River basin, but was introduced into northern Midwestern lakes through the bait trade about 50 years ago. Since then, the rusty crayfish has spread rapidly through lakes in northern Wisconsin, displacing two resident species of crayfish, O. propinquus (Girard, 1852), the northern clearwater crayfish, and O. virilis (Hagen, 1870), the virile crayfish. Previous studies have shown that as O. rusticus invades, it hybridizes extensively with O. propinquus, but not with O. virilis. Here, we examine why stable hybrid zones do not form between O. rusticus and O. propinquus, but instead hybridization accelerates the decline of O. propinquus. We report that although putative F1 hybrids tend to grow faster and survive better than other crayfish, backcross hybrid crayfish tend to have fewer young (at a given age) that grow more slowly and experience lower survivorship than F1 hybrids and both parental species. Parental O. rusticus, in comparison, have offspring numbers and growth rates more similar to those of F1 hybrids, while survivorship is intermediate between F1 hybrids and backcrosses. Consequently, hybrid breakdown appears to occur in latter generation crayfish of mixed ancestry, resulting in unstable hybrid zones in lakes that speed the extirpation of O. propinquus. Our findings underscore the negative effects that hybridization can have on conserving native gene pools, a danger that may be particularly detrimental for the great diversity of North American crayfishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate different replacement levels of fishmeal ( FM) by feather meal (FeM) on survival and growth of juvenile crayfish ( Pacifastacus leniusculus). An 80-day experiment was conducted with stage 2 juveniles from the onset of exogenous feeding. Four practical diets (500 g kg−1 protein) differing in the level of replacement of FM protein by FeM protein were prepared: 0% (control diet), 15% (8.2% dietary FeM), 25% (13.7% dietary FeM) or 35% (19.2% dietary FeM). Each diet was tested on grouped or individually isolated crayfish. Crayfish fed the control diet or 15% replacement achieved the highest survival (average of grouped and isolated: 88.2%) and growth (grouped and isolated: 13.58 mm carapace length, 523.2 mg weight) and the lowest feed conversion ratio (average of grouped and isolated: 1.11). Final growth of isolated crayfish was significantly higher than that of grouped crayfish for all diets. This study provides the first data on the substitution possibilities of FM by FeM in diets for freshwater crayfish. An 8.2% of FeM (15% replacement of FM protein) can be included in extruded diets for juvenile P. leniusculus during the first 80 days of intensive rearing without impairing growth or feed conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]