First record of the spiny-cheek crayfish Orconectes limosus (Rafinesque, 1817) introduced to the Iberian Peninsula

Lluis Benejam,Anna Saperas,Sandra Saura-Mas

doi:10.3391/ai.2011.6.s1.025

Abstract

This is the first record of the spiny-cheek crayfish, Orconectes limosus (Rafinesque, 1817), introduced into the Iberian Peninsula. Sixteen individuals of this crayfish species were detected in the Muga River, near to the Boadella Reservoir (Catalonia, NE Iberian Peninsula) on October 9, 2010. This reservoir is only 14 km away from France, where the spiny-cheek crayfish was introduced during the 20th century. The presence of this non-native crayfish is a pressure on the conservation of native crayfish populations of this area and a problem for the whole aquatic ecosystem.

Highlights

The spiny-cheek crayfish, Orconectes limosus (Rafinesque, 1817) [Crustacea: Decapoda: Cambaridae], is a crayfish native of North America, widely distributed on the Atlantic watersheds
The presence of this invasive species might be a further problem to the native white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius italicus), because the spiny-cheek crayfish may live in a wide range of habitats and acts as a vector of crayfish plague (Aphanomyces astaci), like other North American crayfish (Souty-Grosset et al 2006)
During a nocturnal survey with flashlights to detect individuals of white-clawed crayfish in the Muga River (Catalonia, NE Iberian Peninsula) on October 9th 2010, 16 individuals of spiny-cheek crayfish were detected along a 150 m river stretch (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

The spiny-cheek crayfish, Orconectes limosus (Rafinesque, 1817) [Crustacea: Decapoda: Cambaridae], is a crayfish native of North America, widely distributed on the Atlantic watersheds. The spiny-cheek crayfish was the first non-native crayfish to be intentionally introduced into Europe from the United States (Hamr 2002; Holdich 2002). Until now, the species had not been detected in the Iberian Peninsula (García-Berthou et al 2007; Holdich and Black 2007; Adams et al 2010).

Results

Conclusion