The Red Alien vs. the Blue Destructor: The Eradication of Cherax destructor by Procambarus clarkii in Latium (Central Italy)

Diversity

Laura Aquiloni¹  Elena Tricarico¹  Giuseppe Mazza¹  AlbertoFrancesco Inghilesi¹  Massimiliano Scalici²  Andrea Monaco³  Tobia Pretto⁴ 

[1] Department of Biology, University of Florence, 50125-Firenze, Italy;Department of Science, University of Roma Tre, 00146 Roma, Italy;Environment and Natural Systems, Latium Region, 00166 Roma, Italy;Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy;

关键词: Aphanomyces astaci;    crayfish plague;    invasive crayfish;    red swamp crayfish;    yabby;   

DOI  :  10.3390/d10040126

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Cherax destructor is a crayfish endemic to south-eastern Australia and one of the last alien crayfish to be introduced in Italy. In the Laghi di Ninfa Natural Reserve (Latium region, Central Italy), the species was probably introduced in 1999, but only reported for the first time in 2008. Nearby this area, the most widespread alien crayfish is the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii. In the Natural Reserve, between 2008 and 2013 and during spring and summer, crayfish sampling was carried out with baited traps to assess the distribution of C. destructor and its possible relationship with P. clarkii. Cherax destructor was first recorded in 2008; few P. clarkii were detected in the cultivation ponds where C. destructor was present in 2012 and 2013. Moreover, crayfish plague analyses evidenced a positive result in two out of the 12 sampled P. clarkii. Cherax destructor is now completely absent from the Natural Reserve, while P. clarkii has spread in the area and was probably responsible for this eradication since C. destructor is vulnerable to crayfish plague which was also detected in the area. An ecosystem restoration project in the area favoured the spread of. P. clarkii; the implications of this intervention are discussed.

【 授权许可】

Unknown