Conservation Genetics As a Tool for Conservation and Management of the Native Japanese Freshwater Crayfish Cambaroides Japonicus (De Haan)
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Conservation genetics as a tool for conservation and management of the native Japanese freshwater crayfish Cambaroides japonicus (De Haan) Author Dawkins, Kat, Furse, James Published 2012 Journal Title Crustacean Research Copyright Statement © 2012 The Carcinological Society of Japan. The attached file is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version. Downloaded from http://hdl.handle.net/10072/50545 Link to published version http://rose.hucc.hokudai.ac.jp/~s16828/cr/e-site/Top_page.html Griffith Research Online https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au CRUSTACEAN RESEARCH, SPECIAL NUMBER 7: 35–43, 2012 34 Statzner, B., Fievet, E., Champagne,J. Coughran J.–y., & J. M.Journal Furse of Crustacean Biology, 21: 354–359. Morel, R., & Herouin, E., 2000. Crayfish as Wells, S. M., Pyle, R. M., & Collins, N. M., 1983. Conservation genetics as a tool for conservation and geomorphic agents and ecosystem engineers: The IUCN Invertebrate Red Data Book. The management of the native Japanese freshwater crayfish Biological behavior affects sand and gravel IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. 632 pp. ISBN erosion in experimental streams. Limnology and 2–88032–602–X. Cambaroides japonicus (De Haan) Oceanography, 45: 1030–1040. Statzner, B., Peltret, O., & Tomanova, S., 2003. Crayfish as geomorphic agents and ecosystem Addresses: (JC) Environmental Futures engineers: effect of a biomass gradient on Centre and Griffith School of Environment, baseflow and flood–induced transport of gravel Gold Coast campus, Griffith University, Kathryn L. Dawkins and James M. Furse and sand in experimental streams. Freshwater Queensland 4222, Australia, and Outback Biology, 48: 147–163. Ecology, 1/73 Troy Terrace, Jolimont, Stone, E. L., 1993. Soil burrowing and mixing by Western Australia, 6014, Australia, (JMF) Abstract.—Unprecedented rates of extinction Conservation Monitoring Centre, 1992). a crayfish. Soil Science Society of America Environmental Futures Centre and Griffith have lead to the development of fields, such as While it has been established that terrestrial, Journal, 57: 1096–1099. School of Environment, Gold Coast campus, conservation genetics, in an attempt to better marine, and freshwater ecosystems have all Unestam, T., 1973. Significance of diseases on understand biodiversity and consequently devise been affected, extinction rates are difficult freshwater crayfish. Freshwater Crayfish, 13: Griffith University, Queensland 4222, Australia; conservation programs to maintain the genetic to accurately estimate due to our incomplete 135–150. integrity of species. We discuss the utility and Usio, N., & Townsend, C. R., 2001. The significance understanding of current and past levels Email: (JC) jason.coughran@ application of conservation genetics, using of the crayfish Paranephrops zealandicus as of biodiversity. Nevertheless, previous outbackecology.com, (JMF) j.furse@griffith. examples from Australian freshwater crayfish, shredders in a New Zealand headwater stream. edu.au researchers have identified that biodiversity with a view to applying this methodology to within freshwater ecosystems is at particular the sole native crayfish species found in Japan, risk (e.g., Saunders, 1976; Dudgeon, 1984; Cambaroides japonicus (De Haan). This species Sala et al., 2000; Cook et al., 2008); although is threatened by the non–indigenous crayfish this environment is relatively understudied in Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana) through comparison to terrestrial and marine systems. displacement, competition pressures, and susceptibility to Aphanomyces astaci Schikora Recent studies employing molecular (the crayfish plague, carried by the invasive techniques have revealed cryptic diversity in species). Examining the genetic diversity within formerly well–studied groups of organisms C. japonicus could allow populations of high (Baker et al., 2004), and cryptic genetic conservation priority to be identified (i.e., divergence in the world’s largest and genetically distinct populations) or, in contrast, arguably most iconic freshwater crayfish show that this species is genetically homogenous. species Astacopsis gouldi Clark (Sinclair et Such genetic continuity may suggest that other al., 2011). These studies highlighted both our conservation methods (e.g., translocations and incomplete understanding of well–known restocking populations) may be suitable for this groups and species, but also that very high species of crayfish. Identifying genetic variability, group– and species–level conservation values or lack thereof, is a key step in dictating the can be easily overlooked. future direction of any conservation measures for This review is concerned with the status C. japonicus. of one particular group of aquatic organisms, freshwater crayfish, which are found on every continent (excluding the African INTRODUCTION (bar Madagascar), Antarctic, and Indian It is apparent that throughout the world, sub–continent) and are widely regarded as population declines and species’ extinctions keystone species (sensu Krebs, 1994) in are occurring at an unprecedented rate areas they inhabit (Hart, 1992; Momot, 1995; (Dirzo & Raven, 2003; DeSalle & Amato, Holdich, 2002c). 2004; May, 2010). Although extinctions are In 2010, the world’s freshwater crayfish natural phenomena, evidence suggests that were assessed for the IUCN Red List of current extinction rates far exceed those Threatened Species, and the evaluation seen in the past and are likely, for the most of 528 species established that freshwater part, attributable to human actions (World crayfish are among the world’s 5 most CONSERvATION OF C. jAPoniCuS USING GENETICS 37 36 36 threatened groups of animals (Dewhurst,K. L. DawKins &Kawai J. M. Furse & Machino, 2010). reproductive success in native species (e.g., reveals many similarities to Europe. Studies 2010 personal communication; IUCN, For example, some iconic, and Söderbäck, 1991; 1994; Westman et al., have compared the biology and ecology of 2011). As first highlighted by Wells et al. comparatively well–studied species are 2002). The United Kingdom (UK) and parts the native C. japonicus and non–indigenous P. (1983), the main threats to invertebrates facing a suite of well known and serious of mainland Europe are good examples of leniusculus and concluded that P. leniusculus and freshwater crayfish are: 1) habitat threats, and are consequently of considerable where entire populations of native species is likely to out–compete C. japonicus for destruction, 2) pollution, 3) non–indigenous conservation concern; yet they are currently have been extirpated, and where surviving habitat and resources, owing to its higher species, and 4) human exploitation (Wells et classified as DD. The World’s 2nd largest native populations are still at threat from the fecundity (and generally higher reproductive al., 1983; IUCN, 2011). Recently identified species of freshwater crayfish, Euastacus invading species (Evans & Edgerton, 2002; capacity), higher growth rates, and resistance emerging threats include changes to climate armatus (von Martens) from Australia is one Jussila et al., 2008; Bjurström et al., 2010; to diseases including the crayfish plague and increasing environmental temperature such species; the species faces numerous Peay et al., 2010). (Yamanaka et al., 1997; Nakata et al., 2004). (Horwitz, 1990a; 2010; Coughran & Furse, serious threats, but a simple lack of quantified Eight native crayfish species are Direct predation and increased success in 2010; Furse & Coughran, 2011a; Furse et al., data on its contemporary distribution and recognised in Europe, and while not all have obtaining shelter/refuges (a limiting variable 2012a) and increased intensity and frequency abundance does not permit assessment versus been assessed for the IUCN Red List (Table for presence and density of crayfish) and of severe weather events (Furse et al., IUCN Red List criteria (Furse & Coughran, 1), the presence of invasive crayfish has been reduced refuge availability have also been 2012b). 2011b; IUCN, 2011). The DD assessment identified as a threat to all native species indicated as threats to the survival prospects The objective of this paper is to review for C. japonicus highlights the need for by the IUCN (2011) and a number of other of C. japonicus (Nakata et al., 2006). the conservation status of the sole native more basic research on its contemporary workers (e.g., Harlioğlu & Harlioğlu, 2006; Japanese species of freshwater crayfish distribution and occupancy of habitat. Peay et al., 2010). Research imperatives and Methods for inves- (Cambaroides japonicus (De Haan)), and In their 2010 assessment, Kawai and There are at least 5 non–native crayfish tigation of C. japonicus introduce and discuss the applications of Machino identified key threats to C. species in Europe, including known carriers Addressing the previously documented existing techniques/methods that could japonicus, the most serious of which was the of the crayfish plague (e.g., P. leniusculus knowledge gaps for C. japonicus should assist in conservation efforts for this species. spread of the non–native and highly invasive and Procambarus Clarkii (Girard)) and as be accorded high priority (and allocated Examples of how these techniques have American signal crayfish, Pacifastacus such are considered as very serious threats to appropriate funding) as the resulting been applied in the context of Australian leniusculus (Dana), which