Experimental reintroduction of the crayfish species Orconectes virilis into formerly acidified Lake 302S (Experimental Lakes Area, Canada)This paper is part of the series “Forty Years of Aquatic Research at the Experimental Lakes Area”.

Abstract

Reintroduction of functionally important species is considered a key strategy for restoring damaged ecosystems. However, the sudden reappearance of an extirpated species may have adverse ecological impacts, degrading ecosystem services. Therefore, we experimentally reintroduced the crayfish Orconectes virilis into a biologically recovering, formerly acidified Boreal Shield lake (Lake 302S, Experimental Lakes Area, Canada) to determine its effect on the littoral food web following a 17-year absence. In June 2004, a single-factor experimental design consisting of two treatment levels (crayfish-less control versus 1.8 introduced crayfish·m–2) was replicated five times for a total of 10 littoral cages (4 m2). Orconectes virilis significantly (P < 0.05) suppressed the total biomass of other benthic invertebrates by 70% primarily because of declines in larval damselflies and midges. In addition, crayfish reduced periphytic biomass by 90% (P < 0.001). Stable isotopic analyses of the mesocosm food webs further indicated that O. virilis likely functioned as an omnivore, exerting direct and possibly indirect effects on other invertebrates and periphyton. Our findings highlight how the reintroduction of O. virilis must be balanced with adequate fish predation to prevent this species from becoming an invader and negatively affecting the productive capacity of boreal lakes.