ISSN 1023-8174

Vol.25 No.4 September 2003 The official newsletter of the International Association of Astacology CRAYNET MEETING IN NORWAY

Catching from a population re-established after crayfish plague in Halden, Norway

The second thematic meeting of The CRAYNET meetings aim at bringing CRAYNET entitled “European native together not only the core scientists but crayfish with a focus on astacus: also other crayfish researchers and linking socioeconomics and conservation” managers, to identify necessary research was held in Halden, Norway from 1 to 4 for a common approach to management September 2003. Organisers were Trond techniques, and to develop recommend- Taugbøl (Norwegian Institute of Nature ations for optimal management strategies Research, Norway), Lennart Edsman at a European scale. The special (National Board of Fisheries, ), objective of the Halden meeting was to Ralf Schulz and Holger Schulz (Technical focus on the cultural and socioeconomic University of Braunschweig, Germany) significance of the noble crayfish, Astacus and Przemyslaw Smietana (University of astacus, and the important link between Szczecin, Poland). conservation and use. (Continued on page 3)

NEWSFLASH: The IAA 15 Organising Committee have extended the early registration deadline to 16 December 2003. A Registration Form is included in this newsletter. Please e-mail Liz Watson ([email protected]) to advise of your attendance. Members, please spread this news to colleagues who are considering attending what promises to be an excellent event. Details at www.crayfish15.org. IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 20 President’s Corner LITERATURE OF INTEREST TO 10. Peay, S. 2003. A Monitoring Protocol for ASTACOLOGISTS t h e W h i t e - clawed Crayfish, It is my pleasure to again write to you as I near 1. Cortes-Jacinto, E., Villarreal-Colmenares, Austropotamobius pallipes. Conserving the end of my term as President of IAA. Our H., Civera-Cerecedo, R. and Martinez- Natura 2000 Rivers. Monitoring Series No. 1. summer meeting is fast approaching (next Cordova, R. 2003. Effect of dietary protein English Nature, Peterborough. This can be March!). Indeed, I recently checked some flight level on growth and survival of juvenile downloaded from www.riverlife.org.uk prices from the US to London and happily found freshwater crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus 11. Thompson, K., Muzinic, L., Christian, T., Webster, C., Manomaitis, L. and Rouse, D. The International Association of Astacology (IAA), some very reasonable fares ($600) available at (: Parastacidae). Aquaculture 2003. Lecithin requirements of juvenile founded in Hintertal, Austria in 1972, is dedicated the moment. So I would like to encourage all of Nutrition 9(4):207-213 Australian red claw crayfish Cherax to the study, conservation, and wise utilisation of you to book your flights to London from 2. Holdich D. M. 2003. Ecology of the White- quadricarinatus. Aquaculture Nutrition 9 freshwater crayfish. Any individual or firm wherever you are so that you can partake of the clawed Crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes. (4):223-230. interested in furthering the study of astacology is most enjoyable aspect of our association – the Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers. Ecology eligible for membership. Service to members biannual meeting. The meeting is being Series No. 1. English Nature, Peterborough. include a quarterly newsletter, membership organized by David Rogers, who has This can be downloaded from www.riverlife.org.uk directory, bi-annual international symposia and established a web site for meeting registration publication of the journal Freshwater Crayfish. 3. Kawai, T., Arai, K. and Ohtaka, A. 2003. and associated information. Please set your Local name of the Japanese crayfish, Secretariat internet browser to http://www.crayfish15.org to Cambaroides japonicus and its specimens find further meeting information and register for The International Association of Astacology has a from Yamagata Prefecture. Cancer 12:31-35 permanent secretariat managed by Bill Daniels. this exciting event. I hope to see you all there! (in Japanese). Address: IAA Secretariat, Room 123, Swingle Hall, 4. Kawai, T. and Mitamura, T. 2003. Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures, As I discussed during my last letter, we have of introduced crayfish in Auburn University, AL 36849-5419, USA. welcomed on board a group from Germany, the Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Cancer 12:29- Tel: (+1 334) 8449123 Forum Flusskrebse, who share membership in 30 (in Japanese). Fax: (+1 334) 8449208 IAA and their local organization in Germany. 5. Kawai, T. and Scholtz, G. 2002. Behavior E-mail: [email protected] As a result IAA has grown significantly and we of juveniles of the Japanese endemic species look forward to this continued partnership. We Cambaroides japonicus (Decapoda: Web page: are now working on a similar arrangement with ); with observations on the http://www.crayfish.byu.edu/IAA/ astacologists from France. Our hope is that poition of the spermatophore attachment on these local groups will encourage more interest adult females. Journal of Biology, Officers: and involvement in IAA. We especially hope to 22(3), 532-537. 6. López, M., Mejíe, L. M. & Alvarez, F. •Keith Crandall, President, Department of see all of these new colleagues from Europe join (2003). Procambarus (Villalobosus) achilli us in London for IAA 15. Zoology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT (Decapoda, Cambaridae): a new species of 84602-5255 USA crayfish from Mexico. Crustaceana, 76(5), E-mail: [email protected] Finally, I would like to announce that through 523-531. •Francesca Gherardi, President-elect, Department great effort by member Jim Fetzner, IAA has a 7. Nakata, K., Hamano, T., Hayashi, K-I. & new and updated website at : of Biology and Genetics, University of Kawai, T. 2002. Lethal limits of high MANAGEMENT & CONSERVATION http://crayfish.byu.edu/IAA/index.htm. temperature for two , the native Florence, via Romana 17, 50125 Firenze, Italy OF CRAYFISH E-mail: [email protected] Because this site is new, we anticipate that there species Cambaroides japonicus and the alien • will be many things missing and perhaps some species Pacifastacus leniusculus in Japan. Catherine Souty-Grosset, Secretary, Laboratoire link problems. We would encourage all of our Fisheries Science, 68, 763-767. The proceedings of the conference on de Génétique et Biologie des Populations de members to surf this new site and give us your 8. Nakata, K., Kawai, T. and Goshima, S. Management & Conservation of Crayfish Crustacés, University of Poitiers, UMR CNRS ideas on how to make it better serve the 2003. Rediscovery of the Japanese crayfish (Holdich & Sibley, 2003) can now be 6556, 86022 Poitiers Cedex, France membership. We look forward to your Cambaroides japonicus in Lake obtained via the Environment Agency E-mail: [email protected] feedback. Shikaribetsu, Hokkaido, Japan. Bulletin of the website: •Glen Whisson, Past President, Aquatic Science Higashi Taisetsu Museum of Natural History http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk Research Unit, Curtin University of Technology, Let me conclude by again encouraging you all 25:61-66. GPO Box U1987 Perth 6845, Western Australia to make plans for our upcoming meeting in 9. Neveu, A. & Bachelier, E. 2003. Go into the website and to the ‘Choose a E-mail: [email protected] London (IAA 15: March 29 – April 2, 2004). Austropotamobius pallipes mortality in the Section’. Choose ‘Science & Research’ Sèvre Niortaise river system. Presence of the and the details are highlighted in red. An Statements and opinions expressed in Sincerely plague disease (aphanomycosis). e-mail address is given where you can Crayfish News are not necessarily those of the L’Astaciculteur de France, 76, 2-4. (In French International Association of Astacology Keith A. Crandall, Ph.D. ask for a copy. IAA President with English abstract). IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 2 IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 19 My study will investigate the impact of Cherax quadric- CHANGE OF IAA SECRETARIAT carinatus in Jamaican river systems by examining key Dear Astacolleagues, travel to many interesting venues because biological and ecological of my association with IAA and meet all sorts factors of Cherax quadric- I first became associated of wonderful people. carinatus in both rivers; mainly with IAA in 1972 when I distribution, diet, population resumed my studies after I now realize that it is time to step back and density, microhabitat and spending several years in pass the responsibilities associated with the reproduction. The interactions the service. Jim Avault, permanent home office to a highly of C. quadricarinatus with the my major professor, asked motivated, competent person. I am pleased native benthic macro - me to assist him with that Bill Daniels has agreed to accept those invertebrates mainly shrimps collecting information responsibilities and I look forward to the and gastropods as well as with Jay Huner enthusiasm he will bring to IAA. IAA legend about the status of the invasive snails Thiara crayfish in the USA. Jim Thank you for your past support and good granifera and Melanoides had been invited to make wishes. tuberculata (family Thiaridae) a presentation on the topic in Hinterthal, will be investigated. The Austria. There was no IAA at that time; Best Regards economic effects of the Sacha-Renee Todd and Michela D’Andrea conduct crayfish however, when Jim returned, the introduction of Cherax distribution surveys in a tributary of the Black River International Association of Astacology had Jay Huner quadricarinatus will also be been established at that meeting with the determined. References second meeting scheduled for Baton Rouge, Gherardi, F. & Holdich, D. M. (1999) (eds). Louisiana in 1974. NEW IAA CONTACT INFORMATION: Crayfish in Europe as alien species - how to Several crayfish species have been Bill Daniels introduced beyond their natural ranges make the best of a bad situation? Crustacean Issues 11. 299 pp. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam. The rest, as some say, is history. We now Associate Professor, Aquaculture worldwide, either accidentally or approach our 15th meeting of IAA in Rm 123, Swingle Hall intentionally for aquaculture (Gherardi & Hunte, W. (1978). The distribution of freshwater shrimps (Atyidae and Palaemonidae) in Jamaica. London, 32 years later. It has been a Department of Fisheries and Allied Holdich, 1999). Typically, these had Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 64: pleasure to have served IAA in various Aquacultures adverse effects on the existing crayfish 135-150. capacities over the years, most recently as Auburn University, AL 36849-5419 fauna, including the elimination of native Vorburger, C. & Ribi, G. (1999). Aggression and the general manager of the permanent Phone: 1-334-844-9123 species (Vorburger & Ribi, 1999). No competition for shelter between a native and an home office and correspondent to our Fax: 1-334-844-9208 crayfish are native to Jamaican rivers and introduced crayfish in Europe. Freshwater newsletter. I have enjoyed the opportunity to Email: [email protected] streams (E. Hyslop, pers. comm.); however, Biology 42: 111-119. there are 14 indigenous freshwater shrimp Williams Jr., E. W., Bunkley-Williams, L., species (Hunte, 1978). Of this number, Lilyestrom, C. G. & Ortiz-Corps, E. A. (2001). A PLANNING CLAWS review of recent introductions of aquatic EDITORIAL nine occur in the Black River and Rio Cobre invertebrates in Puerto Rico and implications for Plans for a 1200-unit housing estate at systems collectively. Williams et al. (2001) the management of nonindigenous species. Pontypool, South Wales (UK), were Thank-you to everyone who contributed warned that the introduced crayfish Cherax Caribbean Journal of Science, 37 (3-4): 246-251. scrapped after the discovery of a colony of to this issue of the newsletter. We’ve had quadricarinatus possibly constitutes a great Wingfield, M.J. (2000). An overview of production white-clawed crayfish, Austropotamobius positive feedback about the last issue, threat to indigenous shrimp. techniques practiced in the Australian crayfish pallipes, a protected species, on the site! and this time it’s a bumper 20 pages! farming industry (acquired December 7, 2002). The e-version of Crayfish News is Preliminary results indicate, contrary to http://www.natfish.tafensw.edu.au/industryinfo/Pr oductionTechniques.htm received by 90% of our membership, reports that C. quadricarinatus does not dig *********IAA ELECTIONS********* however, only 13% choose to receive the burrows in Australia (Wingfield, 2000), that It’s election time again. If you know of a e-version only. We will continue to make Sacha-Renee Todd individuals in Jamaican rivers are generally colleague who could make a contribution to the e-version more attractive in an effort Department of Life Sciences; University of found occupying u-shaped burrows which IAA as an Executive Officer, please forward to boost this percentage, which will result they construct in the banks of the rivers, the West Indies; Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica a nomination to the current IAA Secretary, in significant savings on postage for IAA. each containing a single crayfish. It is Catherine Souty-Grosset: possible that Cherax quadricarinatus will Email: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Glen Whisson cause deterioration of riverbanks and David Holdich Ballots will then be prepared and sent out in consequently alter the habitat. the near future. IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 18 IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 3 place for the First Hungarian Crayfish Farm. (Continued from page 1) popular late-summer tradition ever since. FENNO-HUNGARIAN SEMINAR AND The meeting gathered 58 participants from The socio-cultural aspect is very important WORKSHOP ON SUSTAINABLE Co-financing seems to be possible and 17 countries. The program comprised to have in mind when discussing and DEVELOPMENT OF FISHING TOURISM, some EU resources can be involved into the plenary talks, poster presentations and implementing management and BALATONFÜRED, HUNGARY, 2003 realisation. A joint Finnish-Hungarian Seminar was held roundtable discussions from Tuesday conservation strategies. The poster Pál Kiszely morning to Wednesday lunch. A total of 14 sessions included 17 posters covering a at Balatonfüred, HUNGARY from 14-16 May 2003. Bartok Bela u 3, H_8230 Balatonfüred, plenary talks addressed socio-cultural and wide range of topics and crayfish species. Hungary (Seminar organizer). socioeconomic aspects, conservation and For a downloadable version of the abstract In addition to fishing, crayfishing has got a restocking, trade regulations, genetic booklet from the meeting, see: considerable role in Finnish free-time variation, survey methods, and http://labo.univ-poitiers.fr/craynet/index.htm activities. Lectures about crayfish farming, ALIEN CRAYFISH INVASION OF perspectives on the past, present and crayfish diseases and crayfish-tourism were JAMAICAN RIVERS future of crayfish pathology in Europe. The roundtable discussions included four presented. Sacha-Renee Todd and Michela D’Andrea parallel sessions on the following topics: conduct crayfish distribution surveys in a Among the many good and interesting Ari Mannonen’s talk dealt with crayfish tributary of the Black River presentations I would like to emphasize the • Threats to native crayfish populations - aquaculture in Finland and gave a broad talk given by Prof. Jan-Öjvind Swahn from crayfish on a landscape level (chaired by picture of crayfish farming in Finland. The redclaw crayfish Cherax quadric- the Dept. of European Ethnology of the Holger Schultz & Ralf Schultz), Pietary Paasonen talked about the most carinatus has been a popular choice for Lund University in Sweden. He presented frequent crayfish diseases, and Japo aquaculture since the late 1980s. Brood • Exploitation, conservation and legislation the cultural history of crayfish and the Jussila spoke of the developing crayfish stock of this Australian native was important role the crayfish has played in (chaired by Lennart Edman & tourism that can be an added attraction to introduced in 1993 to farms in Jamaica, but the eating habits in Europe, habits that in Przemyslaw Smietana), those tourists who love to spend their free owing to improper management, many countries have become extinct. In • Reintroduction of native crayfish, habitat time by aquatic places. All three work at the populations have since become established the Scandinavian countries the present restoration and monitoring (chaired by Päijänne Institute, HÄME Region, Finland. in two of the largest river systems in ritual and ceremonial form of social Trond Taugbøl & Stephanie Peay) Jamaica: Black River in the parish of St. intercourse, called the ”The Crayfish The Finnish scientists took part in a Elizabeth, and Rio Cobre in St. Catherine. • ”, developed during the second half of Crayfish diseases (chaired by Brett crayfishing tour at a pond in Bakony Range, The first known established specimen was the 19th C and has been an extremely Edgerton & Japo Jussila). Pannonia, Hungary. They managed to catch collected from the South Elim River (a several king-size noble crayfish in a tributary of the Black River), in 1999. The relatively short time, so they could large quantities in which this crayfish is now contribute to the gastronomic value of their caught and sold by fishermen is an dinner table with a big dish of brilliant red indication of its local abundance. cooked Astacus astacus. (continued on page 14) The main goal of the seminar was to create a project of co-operation in different fields of CRAYFISH ON CARIBBEAN ISLANDS fishing tourism. Crayfish tourism can be one This is a query about the presence of branch of fishing tourism. Crayfish grows freshwater crayfish on islands in the faster and reach a bigger size in Hungary, Caribbean from David Holdich so some small scale Finnish crayfish ([email protected])? Last year tourism can be developed especially if an article appeared in the British press crayfishing is combined with other from a person who said they had eaten Hungarian attractions as gastronomy, wine- freshwater crayfish from the upland rivers routes, landscape, climate and culture. in St Lucia. This year a colleague reported It was suggested that a crayfish farm should having heard that there were four different be established in Hungary to serve kinds of freshwater crayfish on Grenada. restocking natural waters and produce According to the literature the only island crayfish for the table. where native crayfish occur in the The Finns have got the know-how, as there Caribbean is Cuba. Does anybody know if are nearly 100 crayfish farms in Finland, crayfish really occur on any of the other islands? Delegates of the Halden CRAYNET meeting and the Hungarians can offer a suitable IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 4 IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 17 COMPARATIVE STUDY OF OPERA HOUSE TRAPS AND CYLINDRICAL TRAPS FOR The roundtable session finished with a CATCHING ASTACUS LEPTODACTYLUS IN THE ARASS WATER RESERVOIR, IRAN plenary presentation of conclusions and recommendations from the different At present the crayfish fishermen in Arass catch, the difference was not significant groups. water reservoir use only Cylindrical traps (ANOVA test). Crayfish of more than 120 (Fig. 1). This study was conducted in 2002 mm length (minimum standard size for Afterwards the core and associated and was aimed at evaluating the Arass crayfish) in Opera House traps delegates held a meeting to discuss catchability, sex ratio and average length comprised 87.56% of the catch, while by continuing responsibilities within and weight of crayfish caught with Opera Cylindrical traps, the figure was 69%. CRAYNET and the way forward to the next House traps (Fig. 2) and Cylindrical traps. Innsbruck-meeting in September 2004. Considering the present research finding, it The conference dinner was held Tuesday The results revealed no significant is proposed that the crayfish fishermen in night and served as a 18th century dinner in differences (ANOVA test) between the Arass be allowed to use Opera House the Kings Halls at the Fredriksten Fortress. average length and weight of the crayfish traps, because they are more likely to In the 18th century, no fork or knife were 18th century dinner at the Fredriksten Fortress caught with the two types of trap in different improve crayfish population sustainability. used! Halden is very close to the Swedish months of the year. The CPUE with Opera border and the Fredriksten Fortress was House traps was greater than with (Note: full paper is in Farsi) ordered to be built by King Fredrik of The last part of Wednesday was assigned Cylidrical traps and the number caught in Denmark in 1660 as defence against the to a field trip along the lakes and rivers in 24 h in one trap of the former type was 2.26 Karimpour, M., Taghavi, S.A. and Swedes. At that time Norway was part of the Halden watercourse. Earlier, these number higher. Khanipour, A. Caspian Sea Bony Fishes Denmark. The last time Fredriksten was of were among the best crayfish localities in Research Center, P.O. Box 66, Bandar any military importance was in 1905 in Norway. The watercourse was hit by the The ANOVA test also revealed significant Anzali, IRAN. connection with the Norwegian-Swedish crayfish plague in 1989. Reintroduction of differences in the CPUE between the two union dissolution. Since then, the fort has the noble crayfish started in 1995 as a types of trap in different months. A greater E-mail: mohammad _ karimpour @ been maintained as an historical collaborative effort between the quantity of male crayfish was caught with yahoo.com monument. environmental authorities and the Opera House traps, but compared with Cylindrical traps in respect of male crayfish

Fig. 1. Cylindrical trap

Fig. 2. Opera House trap The crayfish party is about to start!

IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 16 IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 5 mediation of behavior in hermit crabs: alarm and landowners. In almost all parts of the with CRAYNET core members Lennart The EOLSS is intended to enhance the aggregation cues. Journal of Chemical Ecology systematic development of knowledge that watercourse, crayfish recruitment again Edsman and Trond Taugbøl. The close link 18: 959-984. occurs but crayfish density is still very low between these meetings was aimed at is essential for global stability, justice, Rowe C (1999). Receiver psychology and the equity, peace, and security; it presents and more time is needed for a harvestable bridging the gap between the international evolution of multicomponent signals Animal perspective from worldwide regions and population to be developed. level/scientific research and local Behaviour 58: 921-931. managers and stakeholders. Vickers NJ (2000). Mechanisms of animal cultures, and is free from geographic, First, delegates went by bus to a place navigation in odor plumes. Biological Bulletin cultural, political, gender, age, or religious called Strømsfoss where crayfish traps put A special edition of the BFPP-journal will 198: 203-212. bias. out the night before were investigated. The be dedicated for peer-reviewed papers Villanelli F and Gherardi F (1998). Breeding in the crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes: mating Contributions of IAA members are as catch was rather small, but none the less from the meeting as well as reports from patterns, mate choice and intermale follows: demonstrated that a crayfish population the roundtable discussions. competition. Freshwater Biology 40: 305-315. has been re-established in this plague- Waldman B (1982). Quantitative and History and Overview of Biodiversity affected locality. After the crayfish Thanks are due to Leopold Füreder who developmental analyses of the alarm reaction in Conservation and Protected Areas catching, delegates continued upstream in took all the photos the zebra danio, Brachydanio rerio. Copeia 1: 1-9. (Incorporating a History of The the watercourse by an old, restored boat, Wildy EL and Blaustein AR (2001). Learned Conservation Movement), by Naill E. M/S Turisten. The boat trip ended with an Trond Taugbøl recognition of intraspecific predators in larval Doran, World Heritage Area - Fauna long-toed salamanders Ambystoma exciting lift through the locks at Ørje. Norwegian Institute of Nature Research Section, Nature Conservation Branch, macrodactylum. Ethology 107: 479-493. Department of Primary Industries, Water Lillehamer, Norway Woodlock B and Reynolds JD (1988). The last part of the field trip and the end of Laboratory breeding studies of freshwater and Environment, Australia & Alastair the meeting included a traditional crayfish crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes M.M. Richardson, School of Zoology, party, Scandinavian style. OXYGEN AND FOOD CONSUMPTION (Lereboullet). Freshwater Biology 19: 71-78. University of Tasmania, Australia OF ASTACUS ASTACUS IN SPRING Conservation Strategies, Species Action The event took place in idyllic surroundings AND AUTUMN PERIODS DURING Plans and Translocation by Catherine at the shore of Lake Rødenessjøen. A total CULTIVATION IAA MEMBERS CONTRIBUTE TO Souty-Grosset & Frederic Grandjean, of 45 kg of noble crayfish was consumed The climatic conditions of NW Russia NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA Genetique et Biologie de Populations de together with necessary accessories. As (severe long winters and a short period of IAA members contributed to the volume Crustaces UMR 6556, Universite de usual on crayfish , the participants summer vegetation) determine the length “Biodiversity Conservation and Habitat Poitiers, France got inspiration for singing and dancing. The of the life-history of the indigenous noble Management” (Editor Francesca aim of the crayfish party was not only crayfish, Astacus astacus, and prolong the Gherardi, co-editors Claudia Corti and Progress with Species Action Plans by social, but also to demonstrate the magic time taken for this crayfish to reach a Manuela Gualtieri, University of Florence, David Rogers, UK of crayfish eating in a social assembly, and commercial length. In its original waters Italy) for The Encyclopedia of Life Support give some impressions of the cultural Translocation as a Means of Balancing this takes not less than 4-5 years and it System (EOLSS), published by Unesco Populations and Impact on Natural significance of crayfish in Scandinavia. followed by great swarms of crayfish (http://www.eolss.net). Delgates returned to their hotel late Habitats by Catherine Souty-Grosset & (commercial return of crayfish is 7-10% Frederic Grandjean, Genetique et Wednesday night (early Thursday from eggs of females). The EOLSS presents a comprehensive, morning!) for a few hours sleep before Biologie de Populations de Crustaces authoritative, and integrated body of UMR 6556, Universite de Poitiers, France check out and departure for the airport on During cultivation of crayfish most attention knowledge of life support systems. It is a Thursday morning. is paid to intensification of the growth in the forward-looking publication, designed as a Translocation of Aquatic Organisms in summer period and slightly less to global guide to professional practice, Western Australia: History and Associated The CRAYNET meeting was immediately optimization of conditions of crayfish education, and heightened social Impacts by Craig Lawrence, Western followed by a national Swedish/Norwegian maintenance in winter. awareness of critical life support issues. Austrelian Department of Fisheries, meeting gathering some 80 participants Natural and social sciences, humanities, Australia & Glen Whisson, Aquatic from both countries focusing on the The issues of crayfish transition from active engineering and technology, and Science Research Unit, Curtin University conservation and sustainable use of growth to the period of winter rest in management policies for sustainable of Technology, Australia crayfish. This meeting was organised by autumn and reactivation in spring are not development and use of life support Øystein Toverud and Christian Åberg, practically illustrated in the literature. systems are emphasised, together with Eradication and Control of Invasive project leaders of a Swedish-Norwegian However, it is mentioned that transitions issues of global change and their Species by Francesca Gherardi & EU-Interreg project on crayfish require readiness of the entire organism ecological, economic, social, ethical, Claudia Angiolini, Dipartimento di Biologia conservation and use who also attended and are followed by profound physiological cultural, and political dimensions. Animale e Genetica" Leo Pardi", Universita the CRAYNET meeting, in collaboration reconstruction that is exhibited in changes di Firenze, Italy

IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 6 IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 15 (continued from page 13) males are preferred by female A. italicus of oxygen exchange and food consumption the temperature coefficient from that species of crayfish, A. italicus and P. clarkii, (Villanelli and Gherardi 1998) and more – the main components of power calculated is apparently connected with inhabiting a lotic and a lentic habitat, successful mating attempts between large exchange. generative changes. In the second case, respectively. In particular, since the use of females and smaller males were recorded with the temperature decrease lower than o multiple sensory channels in animal in A. pallipes (Woodlock and Reynolds There are results of experimental works on 5 C, the value of indices of respiration communication usually provides more 1988). In females, chemical and visual Narvsky fish factory with young crayfish intensity show the transition of the reliable information (Rowe 1999), the role stimuli seem to interact as nonredundant (0+) that were developed in trays and organism into another quantitative of single and combined stimuli (chemical signals within a multimodal communication basins and with crayfish of different age condition, close to the diapause of insects. and visual) in mate recognition during the system (Partan and Marler 1999) and may that were caught in original waters. Also reproductive period was studied in male A. function independently whether they are there is material on breeding of crayfish in It should be noticed that in the spring and italicus and in both male and female P. perceived simultaneously or not. various conditions of cultivation on base autumn periods crayfish require more clarkii. FSGCR “Ropsha”. oxygen than was calculated by using the Visual signals may provide information on coefficient for determining oxygen Several differences were found. Male A. both the location of individuals and the size Intensity of metabolism was determined by exchange in the summer period, and italicus showed a substantial response only of potential mates, while chemical signals speed of oxygen consumption (bottle oxygen consumption drops lower than in the presence of the odour produced by a may inform of the sex and possibly of the method); food consumption was calculated calculated data only after the temperature female together with visual cues. hierarchical rank of the partner, as as the difference between food mass and decreases lower than 4oC. Austropotamobius italicus lives in lotic demonstrated in the American lobster by uneaten food. systems characterized by turbulent currents Bushmann and Atema (2000). In Table 2 the food consumption by that cause chemicals to disperse rapidly Table 1 shows the results of determination crayfish under different temperature in and this may result in a poor orientation Literature cited of oxygen consumption by Astacus spring and autumn periods is shown. The towards stimuli by animals (Vickers 2000). Abrahmsson SAA (1966). Dynamics of an astacus females. Two critical points can be ration decreases considerably with a fall in isolated population of the crayfish Astacus Visual stimuli may add information on the astacus Linné. Oikos 17: 96-107. seen – with a decrease of water temperature. Moreover, with the same location of females and may save energy temperature from 12oC to 10oC, and lower water temperatures in autumn crayfish Bushmann PJ and Atema J (2000). Chemically o and time in this species, characterized by mediated mate location and evaluation in the than 5 C on the background, there is an consume more food than in spring: their both a restricted mating period (less than 1 lobster, Homarus americanus. Journal of almost linear decrease of respiration ration is higher almost by 30%. month; Villanelli and Gherardi 1998) and a Chemical Ecology 26: 883-899. intensity. In the first case, the deviation of (Continued on page 8) population whose density is low (Gherardi Ferguson HJ, Cobey S and Smith BH (2001). et al. 1997). Sensitivity to change in reward is heritable in the honeybee, Apis mellifera. Animal Behaviour 61: In male P. clarkii, chemical stimuli from 527-534. Table 1. Dynamics of oxygen exchange indices of Astacus astacus depending on water females were sufficient to elicit a searching Gherardi F, Villanelli F and Dardi P (1997). temperature. behaviour. This species lives in lentic Behavioral ecology of the white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes in a Tuscan stream: systems where current flows are slow, and Calculated data preliminary results. Freshwater Crayfish 11: 182- Findings is characterized by both a longer mating 193. (on Cukerzis*) period (6 months, Gherardi et al. 1999) and Gherardi F, Raddi A, Barbaresi S and Salvi G t, °C W, g a population whose density is high. In this Q/W, mgO2/ Q (1999). Life history patterns of the red swamp Q, mgO2/ind.h. Q/W case, visual stimuli are important for a crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, in an irrigation g.h. Q=0,178W0.876 better location of females, but chemical ditch in Tuscany, Italy. Crustacean Issues 12: 2.8 33.40 0.37 0.011 0.59 0.018 stimuli may be sufficient to trigger a 99-108. searching behaviour since P. clarkii is not Göz H (1941). Uber den Art-und 4.8 34.37 0.86 0.025 0.76 0.022 strongly influenced by time and female Individualgeruch bei Fishen. Zeitschrift für 7.0 35.13 1.29 0.037 1.01 0.029 vergleichende Physiologie 29: 1-45. availability. In P. clarkii, single visual stimuli Hazlett BA (2000). Information use by an 10.0 35.83 1.97 0.055 1.53 0.043 elicited a searching behaviour only in invading species: do invaders respond more to 12.0 30.15 2.08 0.069 1.63 0.054 females highlighting the different role that alarm odors than native species? Biological these stimuli play in mate recognition in the Invasions 2: 289-294. 15.0 33.10 2.48 0.075 2.43 0.073 two sexes. Partan S and Marler P (1999). Communication 18.0 32.65 3.36 0.103 3.14 0.096 goes multimodal. Science 283: 1272-1273. Females were attracted by visual signals Pfeiffer W (1963). Alarm substances. Experientia 20.0 36.08 4.08 0.113 4.12 0.114 possibly because they give information on 19: 113-168. the size of the potential mates. Larger Rittschof D, Tsai DW, Massey PG, Blanco L, Kueber GL Jr and Haas J Jr (1992). Chemical *Cukerzis, J. M. 1989. Freshwater Crayfish. Vilnius. (In Russian). IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 14 IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 7 Table 2. Food consumption of Astacus astacus females depending on temperature and inhibit later learning that would occur activity. Alarm molecules were found in the . normally from the pairing of predator cues hemolymph of the hermit crab Clibanarius and successful predation. vittatus and they are peptides less than 1 Food kDa that may be involved in the Ration g/ind. t, °C Season W, g consumption, Experiments conducted on a native complementary cascade of the hemolymph day·100 g/ind. day (Orconectes virilis) and an invasive crayfish (Rittschof et al. 1992). The only result that (O. rusticus) have shown that both are may direct hypotheses towards a peptidic Spring 25.22 0.013 0.05 8.0 affected by this phenomenon, since none of origin of alarm cues in crayfish is the fact Autumn 28.80 0.020 0.07 them treated the goldfish (C. auratus) as a that frozen hemolymph had no biological predator when exposed for three days to activity when tested 24 h after its Spring 25.10 0.230 0.92 fish odour only before being exposed to fish extraction. Freezing alters the tertiary 15.0 and conspecific alarm cues simultaneously. structure of proteins, thus reducing or Autumn 28.38 0.350 1.22 Alien species were not more capable of eliminating their bioactivity. These recognizing unsuccessful predators than chemicals are subject to enzymatic native ones. It would be of interest to test degradation and may be involved directly or During the cultivation of A. astacus the allowed and the temperature should whether an increased predator investment indirectly in the blood clotting process since o following conditions should be maintained: not be higher than 4-5 C. in capture would change the latent clotted hemolymph seemed not to elicit an inhibition effect on both the native and the alarm response in crayfish (personal • in the autumn period the ration should Article based on a poster presented at the invasive species. observation). Further studies are necessary be increased and the calorific value International “Cool water to determine the nature of alarm cues and should be increased; Aquaculture”, September 1-8, 2003, St A preliminary study on the characteristics of to understand whether any link exists Petersburg, Russia. alarm cues demonstrated the presence of between them and blood coagulation. • in the spring period there should be these molecules in the hemolymph of two increased oxygen supply with a rise of O. J. Mitskevich & O. V. Lebedeva species of crayfish, O. virilis and P. clarkii. A further objective of this study was to temperature higher than 5oC; State Research Institute of Lake and River Molecules less than 5 kDa elicited a strong analyze some aspects related to chemical Fisheries (GosNIORKH); 26 Makarov emb. alarm reaction in P. clarkii and were communication during the reproductive • during the whole winter resting period St. Petersburg; Russia. degraded with time through enzymatic period of two (continued on page 14) any decrease in oxygen should not be ([email protected])

Entropy in Ecology and Ethology IAA member Radu Cornel Guiasu recently released "Entropy in Ecology and Ethology", NEW CRAYFISH BOOK a book he co-authored with Silviu Guiasu. It was published by Nova Science Publishers, New York in September 2003. Radu wrote the book with Silviu Guiasu, his father, who is A new hardback book on the world's crayfish has been produced by Chris a Professor in the Department of Mathematics at York University (Toronto). This resulted Lukhaup. The book is in German but includes hundreds of colour in a unique combination of experts in biology and mathematics. While the book is not photographs. An English version is planned. This book will be of great use to directly about crayfish, it contains several detailed crayfish examples and analyses amateurs and naturalists, as well as being of use to specialists for a quick several crayfish data sets. The authors also published a related paper: "Conditional and determination of the world's crayfish species. weighted measures of ecological diversity" 2003. by R.C. Guiasu and S. Guiasu. International Journal of Uncertainty, Fuzziness and Knowledge-Based Systems. Volume It is available through the German Amazon.com for a price of Euro 32.50 + 11: 283-300. This paper analyses biodiversity indices, and proposes a new one, while using an example dealing with crayfish species diversity in many Central Ontario lakes. handling charges, but it is not available from other Amazon.com's, e.g. While the book and paper mentioned above are not directly about crayfish, they may be American, French, English or Japanese. of interest to IAA members, because there are detailed crayfish examples given. LUKHAUP, Chris. (2003). Furthermore, ecologists and ethologists, as well as biologists interested in classification, evolution and biodiversity, may be interested simply because these are some of the Suesswasserkrebse aus aller Welt. major topics covered in the book. Daehne Verlag GmbH, Ettlingen. 247 pp. For further information contact: Dr. Radu Cornel Guiasu, [ISBN 3-935175-14-0] University of Toronto and Glendon College, York University, Canada. Publisher: Daehne Verlag GmbH, Postfach 250, D-76256 Ettlingen, Germany. Email: [email protected]

IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 8 IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 13 Experiments have shown that both a native plasticity may help these species to cope CRAYFISH FISHING IN FRANCE: I saw many crayfish waters disappear (Austropotamobius italicus) and an alien with environments where new predators SEASON 2003 since and continue to disappear. Although species (P. clarkii) were able to recognize may be encountered. Like every summer, the native crayfish the fishing regulation becomes tighter and new predators after an association of only fishing was open in France. My fishing tighter (some "ecologists" even propose a two hours to both conspecific alarm cues When predators are unsuccessful, potential area is in Departments of Ardèche and total ban of the crayfish fishing), the and the new potential predator odour prey are inhibited in learning predator- Drôme (Rhône-Alpes Region), but this crayfish continue to decrease. Because the (goldfish, Carassius auratus). When trained related cues. This can be related to the year was not usual one. Because of the habitats continue to be destroyed and/or with a 24-h association to both conspecific latent inhibition phenomenon, where prior severe drought, crayfish fishing was not polluted, often legally. and goldfish odours, the invasive species exposure to a stimulus (unsuccessful open in the Department of Ardèche. My still responded with an alarm reaction to the predator) without any obvious reinforce- friends I therefore could fish only in The non-welcome introduction of signal fish odour when tested three weeks after ment at the time of the exposure results in Department of Drôme for the three days of crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) is an training. Individuals of the native A. italicus, a reduction of the strength of a learned 26-28 July, 2003. We fished for white- additional problem. Recently this crayfish whether trained for short or longer periods, association that could be formed later clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius seems to be extending its presence in the forgot the association after three weeks. A (Ferguson et al. 2001). Thus, the presence pallipes). The legal size for catching is 9 Department of Ardèche alarmingly (I have longer memory of learned association in of stimuli from a predator without cm (rostrum-telson) and the bag limit is 50 not verified this yet). I cannot say that the the non-indigenous species again associated stimuli indicating predation crayfish per person per day. The only recent extinction of native crayfish from demonstrates how greater behavioural (damaged/crushed conspecifics) should method allowed for the fishing is the some of our fishing rivers in the crayfish lift-net (Krebsteller, balance à Department of Ardèche is related to the écrevisses), and six lift-nets per person. signal crayfish, but I cannot exclude it either. Last year and this year I observed In our "secret fishing rivers", we caught the rivers in order to find the reason(s) of Take that you alien! 158 crayfish. They were kept alive in an the extinction. The waters have become aquarium till the cooking day, 29 July more eutrophic. These are located in 2003, when our family and we fishermen agricultural areas. Also, signal crayfish are ate them with nice wines (see photo). present in waters not so far away (at During the meal we talked about all funny Lamastre and Fay-sur-Lignon). So I expect happenings occurred during this fishing. pollution(s), pesticide(s), and/or crayfish Crayfish fishing was a tradition in all parts plague (transmitted by contaminated of France, but now it occurs only in gears) to be responsible for the decline in southern France locally. the native crayfish. Indeed one river showed a mass mortality of crayfish in The crayfish is decreasing in France and 2002 (or 2001?) according to local so does the crayfish tradition. Since about information near Alboussière (not verified ten years I'm fishing and studying crayfish. yet). (continued on page 10)

A coot attacking an American signal crayfish, a population of which has recently been Crayfish spoils from French found in a nature reserve in Nottingham (UK). (Photo: J. Black). rivers—enjoyed with nice wine!

IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 12 IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 9 (continued from page 9) pleopod 1 is symmetrical in the French Eco-ethology of chemical signals among freshwater crayfish: In the Department of Drôme the native ones in the majority of cases. Absence of a comparative analysis crayfish situation seemed no worse than the symmetric pleopod 1 may indicate the last year and a scientific curiosity was population could have been stocked from IAA member Patrizia Acquistapace sends only to conspecific alarm odours and the found. One river showed strange crayfish. Italy, or perhaps a hybrid between the the following report on studies that resulted non-indigenous C. albidus was alarmed They all belong to A. pallipes, but the French one and the Italian one has in a successful PhD thesis. neither by the con- or the heterospecific rostral cresta median "seemed" to be occurred? Two specimens from this river cues. Further experiments were conducted slightly stronger than that of our native are conserved in ethanol for genetic Chemical signals involved in both predator- on two American species using a different population. I imagined the Italian white- analyses later. prey interactions and communication experimental protocol. The native species clawed crayfish A. pallipes italicus at the during the reproductive period were (Procambarus acutus acutus) responded beginning, so I quickly took morphological Spanish white-clawed crayfish as well as analyzed in several species of crayfish with an alarm reaction in the presence of data before cooking (see Table 1). the Italian ones were introduced into belonging to three families (Astacidae, conspecific cues, while the non-indigenous Unfortunately as I did not carry a several French waters. As far as I know, Cambaridae and Parastacidae). The crayfish (P. clarkii) did not display an alarm binocular microscope with me and as at least the following French departments general purpose of this study was to obtain response but showed an increased feeding they were alive then, I could not observe were involved: Hérault, Isère, Puy-de- a broader vision of how differences in both activity when both conspecific and morphology of the third maxilliped (for the Dôme, Pyrénées-Orientales, Savoie, and the biology and the habitat occupied by heterospecific cues were added. number of spines). Vaucluse. The future genetic analyses these species may influence their may add Drôme to this group. As I'm also response to chemicals. Crayfish are cannibalistic species and There were nine specimens caught from doing genetic analyses of juveniles can learn the association this river. I also compared them with Austropotamobius spp., the Drôme The first experiments were conducted on between alarm odours and a danger event specimens from another population. crayfish may reveal a new vision on the both indigenous and non-indigenous caused by a conspecific (recently-hatched Looked at in detail, the rostral cresta systematics and biogeography of white- species and showed differences in individuals are the most prone to median cannot be distinguished from clawed crayfish. behavioural plasticity in response to cannibalism, Abrahamsson 1966). In the other native crayfish. Also, the ratio of predator detection. This could explain why absence of predators, adult alien species acumen length to rostral length and the Yoichi Machino alien species are successful invaders of (that are less prone to cannibalism) may number of spines behind the cervical 13 Rue Montorge new habitats. both unlearn the association between groove fail to be distinct from the French F-38000 Grenoble alarm cues and a danger situation and white-clawed crayfish A. pallipes pallipes, France. In predator-prey interactions, the detection learn to associate alarm odours to the but the shape of male's pleopod 1 is not [email protected] of chemical alarm cues is critical to the presence of food as a consequence of of the French crayfish. Generally the survival of animals since alarm odours may cannibalistic events. This demonstrates signal the presence of a nearby predator. that alien species make faster and more Appropriate behavioural responses to the appropriate use of information than those Table 1. Morphological features of APP caught in Department of Drôme, 28 July 2003 detection of alarm cues are important for species that are known not to be invasive. an efficient defence against predators. Studies on several non-indigenous crayfish From these experiments, no definitive Number of spines behind the Shape of collected from natural habitats showed that conclusions can be drawn on the innate or Sex Ratio Acumen/Rostrum cervical groove pleopod I they respond to a wider array of alarm acquired recognition of alarm cues as cues (emitted by conspecifics and signals of danger in crayfish. It would be of left right heterospecifics) than native species interest, however, to further study this M 0.154 2 2 assymetric (released by conspecifics only) (Hazlett issue since the recognition of alarm cues M 0.203 2 3 assymetric 2000; Hazlett et al. unpublished data). This as danger signals has been demonstrated hypothesized greater behavioural plasticity to be either innate (fishes, Pfeiffer 1963; M assymetric 0.215 3 2 in response to alarm cues was studied in Waldman 1982) or acquired after M 0.175 3 3 assymetric indigenous and non-indigenous species experience with a danger event (a species F 0.224 3 5 that were reared in farm ponds. of salamander, Wildy and Blaustein 2001). Aquaculture systems seem to alter the M assymetric 0.219 2 2 response to alarm cues in at least the alien In predator-prey interactions, alarm odours M 0.218 2 3 assymetric species. In the Australian species released during a predator event are M Rostrum broken 2 2 assymetric analyzed, the indigenous crayfish Cherax responsible for mediating learned tenuimanus showed a weak alarm reaction recognition of predators (Göz 1941). M 0.172 3 4 assymetric

IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 10 IAA Newsletter 25 (4): 11