Behavioural responses to alarm odours in indigenous and non-indigenous crayfish species: a case study from Western Australia

2002 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Gherardi ◽  
Patrizia Acquistapace ◽  
Brian A. Hazlett ◽  
Glen Whisson
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Appropriate Use ◽  
Alarm Signals ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Phylogenetic Inertia ◽  
Invasive Crayfish ◽  
Measurable Change ◽  
Crayfish Species

The assertion that invasive species show higher plasticity in the use of information than indigenous ones was analysed in an indigenous crayfish Cherax tenuimanus (marron) and the non-indigenous C. albidus (yabby) in temperate Western Australia. In the laboratory, both species displayed a measurable change in their behaviour when presented with odours produced by food and by damaged conspecifics. They also reacted to heterospecific cues, possibly because ~70 years of sympatry had led the two species to learn each other’s alarm signals. However, this may be explained as a case of phylogenetic inertia and/or may be related to similar mechanisms of chemical detection. Yabbies displayed shorter reaction times and clearer changes in their body posture to heterospecific odours than did marron, supporting the view that invasive crayfish make faster and more appropriate use of information than those species they are displacing.

Behavioural responses of Australian freshwater crayfish (Cherax cainii and Cherax albidus) to exotic fish odour

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 399 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Height ◽  
G. J. Whisson
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Predatory Fish ◽  
Behavioural Plasticity ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Freshwater Crayfish ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Exotic Fish ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Invasive Crayfish ◽  
Australian Freshwater

Exotic finfish and crayfish have been translocated into Western Australia for more than 100 years. Deliberate stocking and subsequent escape from man-made impoundments have resulted in widespread distribution of non-native yabbies (Cherax albidus) and the exotic redfin perch (Perca fluviatilis) in the State’s south-west. Both species are considered invasive and are known to compete with indigenous species for resources. The nature and degree of impact on native marron (Cherax cainii) is unclear and the subject of current debate. Other researchers have hypothesised that invasive species modify their behaviour in the presence of predators in a more rapid and advantageous manner than native species. This greater behavioural plasticity can result in displacement of indigenous species and successful colonisation of invaders. The aim of this study was to investigate behavioural responses of an indigenous crayfish (C. cainii) and an invasive crayfish (C. albidus) to odours from a native predator (Tandanus bostocki) and an exotic predatory fish (P. fluviatilis) present in Western Australia. Crayfish behaviour was observed in individual glass tanks following the addition of odours from native (T. bostocki) or exotic (P. fluviatilis) finfish predators. Marron exhibited minor behavioural modifications when presented with odours from native or exotic finfish. In contrast, the invasive yabby showed greater detection of odours, displaying significant changes in behaviour (P < 0.05). Yabbies also appeared to distinguish between food odour (commercial crayfish feed) and predator odour; however, neither marron nor yabbies displayed behaviour indicating that they could distinguish between a native or exotic fish predator. Results support the hypothesis that invasive crayfish species have a greater capacity for behavioural plasticity than non-invasive crayfish.

A Linear-based Model for Multi-Microgrid Energy Sharing- A Western Australia Case Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Azizivahed ◽  
S. Ehsan Razavi ◽  
Ali Arefi ◽  
Christopher Lund
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Energy Sharing

scholarly journals Drivers of Productivity: a Case Study of the Australian Construction Industry

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 85-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Will Chancellor
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Productivity Growth ◽  
New South ◽  
Safety Regulation ◽  
Construction Productivity ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Construction Activity

Australian construction productivity has grown slowly since 1985 and remains arguably stagnant. The importance of this study is therefore to examine several factors through to be drivers of construction productivity and to understand possible avenues for improvement. The drivers tested are research and development, apprentices, wage growth, unionisation and safety regulation. Expenditure on research and development and the number of apprentices were found to be drivers of productivity growth in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia. These findings are important because collectively, these three states account for a majority of construction activity in Australia.

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