Abstract
This study reports the first records of the invasive fresh water red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii in Malta, first spotted in the wild in summer 2016. In spring 2017, 26 specimens of P. clarkii were collected, sexed, measured and identified both morphologically and genetically. The distribution and density of the species along the same valley were investigated at Fiddien Valley and Chadwick Lakes. As these two locations are associated with one of the major valley systems that cross the island, the presence of this prolific, aggressive and opportunistic feeding crayfish species increases the vulnerability of native freshwater species.
Highlights
Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852), the red swamp crayfish, is a freshwater species native to North-Eastern Mexico and South-Central USA (Hobbs, 1989)
In 2016, the EU commission through EU regulation 2016/1141 has enlisted both P. clarkii and P. fallax f. virginalis as species that fall within the legal framework of EU regulation 1143/2014, as invasive species of concern to European biodiversity (EUR-Lex, 2017)
The genetic data generated was deposited in GenBank, under accession numbers MF170527-36. These results provide scientific and conservation considerations on the occurrence of P. clarkii in one of Malta’s major valley freshwater courses
Summary
Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852), the red swamp crayfish, is a freshwater species native to North-Eastern Mexico and South-Central USA (Hobbs, 1989). It is a generalist opportunistic omnivore (Alcorlo et al, 2004) and has behavioural plasticity that allows it to cope with changing environmental and biological conditions (Ilheu et al, 2003; Dörr et al, 2006; Grey and Jackson, 2012). Virginalis as species that fall within the legal framework of EU regulation 1143/2014, as invasive species of concern to European biodiversity (EUR-Lex, 2017). The establishment of early detection systems and rapid response measures would lead to better effective management measures (EUR-Lex, 2017)
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