New Alien Crayfish Species in Central Europe
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NEW ALIEN CRAYFISH SPECIES IN CENTRAL EUROPE Introduction pathways, life histories, and ecological impacts DISSERTATION zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades Dr. rer. nat. der Fakultät für Naturwissenschaften der Universität Ulm vorgelegt von Christoph Chucholl aus Rosenheim Ulm 2012 NEW ALIEN CRAYFISH SPECIES IN CENTRAL EUROPE Introduction pathways, life histories, and ecological impacts DISSERTATION zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades Dr. rer. nat. der Fakultät für Naturwissenschaften der Universität Ulm vorgelegt von Christoph Chucholl aus Rosenheim Ulm 2012 Amtierender Dekan: Prof. Dr. Axel Groß Erstgutachter: Prof. Dr. Manfred Ayasse Zweitgutachter: Prof. apl. Dr. Gerhard Maier Tag der Prüfung: 16.7.2012 Cover picture: Orconectes immunis male (blue color morph) (photo courtesy of Dr. H. Bellmann) Table of contents Part 1 – Summary Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 Invasive alien species – a global menace ....................................................................... 1 “Invasive” matters .......................................................................................................... 2 Crustaceans – successful invaders .................................................................................. 4 The case of alien crayfish in Europe .............................................................................. 5 New versus Old alien crayfish ........................................................................................ 6 Aims of this thesis ................................................................................................................. 8 Summary of chapters ......................................................................................................... 11 Chapter 1: The pet trade as a pathway for alien crayfish introductions ....................... 11 Chapter 2: Life-history traits of New alien crayfish ..................................................... 13 Chapter 3: Ecological role and impact of New alien crayfish ...................................... 15 General conclusions ........................................................................................................... 18 References ............................................................................................................................ 20 Einleitung .............................................................................................................................. 35 Fragestellung ....................................................................................................................... 43 Zusammenfassung der Kapitel ....................................................................................... 46 Kapitel 1: Der Aquarienhandel als Einfuhr-/Freisetzungsvektor von gebietsfremden Flusskrebsen ................................................................................................................. 46 Kapitel 2: Lebenszyklus-Strategien von Neuen gebietsfremden Flusskrebsen ............ 49 Kapitel 3: Ökologische Rolle und Auswirkungen von Neuen gebietsfremden Flusskrebsen ................................................................................................................. 51 Schlussfolgerungen ........................................................................................................... 54 Table of contents Part 2 – Publications and manuscripts Chapter 1: The pet trade as a pathway for alien crayfish introductions into Central Europe . Chucholl, C. (in press). Invaders for sale: trade and determinants of introduction of ornamental freshwater crayfish. Biol. Inv............................................ 59 . Chucholl, C. et al. (in press). The clones are coming – strong increase in Marmorkrebs [Procambarus fallax (Hagen, 1870) f. virginalis] records from Europe. Aquat. Invas. .......................................................................................... 93 Chapter 2: Understanding invasion success: life-history traits of New alien crayfish in Central Europe . Chucholl, C. (2011a). Population ecology of an alien “warm water” crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in a new cold habitat. Knowl. Managt. Aquatic Ecosyst. 401: art. no. 29. ............................................................................... 107 . Chucholl, C. (2012). Understanding invasion success: life-history traits and feeding habits of the alien crayfish Orconectes immunis (Decapoda, Astacida, Cambaridae). Knowl. Managt. Aquatic Ecosyst. 404: art. no. 04. ............. 131 Chapter 3: Ecological role and impact of New alien crayfish, both from an intra-guild and synecological perspective . Chucholl, C. et al. (2008). Aggressive interactions and competition for shelter between a recently introduced and an established invasive crayfish: Orconectes immunis vs. O. limosus. Fund. App. Lim./Arch. Hydrobiol. 172: 27–36. ................................................................................................................. 157 . Chucholl, C. (submitted). Feeding ecology and ecological impact of an alien “warm water” omnivore in temperate lakes. ..................................................... 177 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... 207 Curriculum vitae ................................................................................................................ 209 List of publications............................................................................................................ 211 Table of contents Appendix . Chucholl, C., Daudey, T. (2008). First record of Orconectes juvenilis (Hagen, 1870) in eastern France: update to the species identity of a recently introduced orconectid crayfish (Crustacea: Astacida). Aquat. Invas. 3: 105–107. ...................................................................................................... 219 . Chucholl, C., Pfeiffer, M. (2010). First evidence for an established Marmorkrebs (Decapoda, Astacida, Cambaridae) population in Southwestern Germany, in syntopic occurrence with Orconectes limosus (Rafinesque, 1817). Aquat. Invas. 5: 405–412. .......................................................... 223 . Chucholl, C. (2011b). Disjunct distribution pattern of Procambarus clarkii (Crustacea, Decapoda, Astacida, Cambaridae) in an artificial lake system in Southwestern Germany. Aquat. Invas. 6: 109–113. ............................................... 231 . Figures ........................................................................................................................ 237 Table of contents “The careful study of one of the commonest and most insignificant of animals, leads us, step by step, from every-day knowledge to the widest generalizations and the most difficult problems of zoology; and, indeed, of biological science in general” Thomas H. Huxley (1879), in: The Crayfish Part 1 – SUMMARY 1 Summary Introduction 2 Summary Introduction Introduction Invasive alien species—a global menace Biological invasions represent a significant component of global environmental change (Sala et al. 2000; Lockwood et al. 2007; McGeoch et al. 2010). The spread of species into new hab- itats has always been a part of the natural dynamics of ecosystems. However, in recent dec- ades, the magnitude and frequency of human-mediated biological invasions have dramatically increased (Hulme 2009). Invasive alien species (IAS) now constitute a leading global threat to biodiversity (CBD 2000; Sala et al. 2000; McGeoch et al. 2010). IAS negatively affect all levels of biodiversity (i.e., genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity) and alter ecosystem processes (Sala et al. 2000; Lockwood et al. 2007). IAS often decrease native species abundance and richness via competition, predation, and spread of disease (Gaertner et al. 2009; Lee 2011; Vilà et al. 2011). For instance, non- native Nile perch (Lates niloticus) has contributed to the extinction of more than 200 endemic fish species in Lake Victoria, Africa (Lowe et al. 2000), while non-native rat species (Rattus exulans, Rattus norvegicus, and Rattus rattus) have eliminated at least 50 bird species on ap- proximately 40 islands worldwide (Lee 2011). Moreover, IAS can threaten close native rela- tives through hybridization, resulting in the elimination of unique genotypes and the obscur- ing of species boundaries. This was demonstrated for non-native Rainbow trout (Oncorhyn- chus mykiss) and native Apache trout (Oncorhynchus apache) in the American Southwest (Primack 2011). Deleterious ecosystem-wide effects may occur, with IAS eliminating key- stone species or altering key processes, food web structures, or physical habitat properties (Lockwood et al. 2007; Michelan et al. 2010). For instance, Caulerpa taxifolia, a seaweed native to the Indian Ocean, displaces native hard-substrate algae and seagrasses in the Medi- terranean Sea. These algae and seagrasses provide key habitats and serve as spawning grounds and nurseries for many native marine species. Thus, an ecologically diverse and rich native community is replaced by a species-poor community (Galil 2011). Finally, IAS de- crease inter-habitat diversity and inter-ecosystem diversity within and across continents (Lockwood et al. 2007; Winter et al. 2010). Generalist species, such as Wild boar (Sus scrofa), European shore crab (Carcinus maenas), and Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), are