The effects of shelter quality and prior residence on marmorkrebs (marbled crayfish)

AbstractIn this study, the hemolymph vascular system (HVS) in two cambarid crayfishes, i.e. the Marbled Crayfish, Procambarus virginalis Lyko, 2017 and the Spiny Cheek Crayfish, Faxonius limosus (Rafinesque, 1817), is investigated in regard of areas of non-genetic phenotypic variation. Despite their genetic identity, specimens of P. virginalis show variability in certain features of the HVS. Thus, we describe varying branching patterns, sporadic anastomoses, and different symmetry states in the vascular system of the marbled crayfish. We visualize our findings by application of classical and modern morphological methods, e.g. injection of casting resin, micro-computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy. By comparing our findings for P. virginalis to the vasculature in sexually reproducing crayfishes, i.e. F. limosus and Astacus astacus, we discuss phenotypic variation of the HVS in arthropods in general. We conclude that constant features of the HVS are hereditary, whereas varying states identified by study of the clonal P. virginalis must be caused by non-genetic factors and, that congruent variations in sexually reproducing F. limosus and A. astacus are likely also non-genetic phenotypic variations. Both common causal factors for non-genetic phenotypic variation, i.e., phenotypic plasticity and stochastic developmental variation are discussed along our findings regarding the vascular systems. Further aspects, such as the significance of non-genetic phenotypic variation for phylogenetic interpretations are discussed.

Download Full-text

First Record of the Alien Species Procambarus virginalis Lyko, 2017 in Fresh Waters of Sardinia and Insight into Its Genetic Variability

Life ◽

10.3390/life11070606 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 606

Author(s):

Daria Sanna ◽

Ilenia Azzena ◽

Fabio Scarpa ◽

Piero Cossu ◽

Angela Pira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variability ◽

Alien Species ◽

Procambarus Clarkii ◽

Mitochondrial Gene ◽

First Record ◽

Indigenous Species ◽

Fresh Waters ◽

Mediterranean Island ◽

Marbled Crayfish ◽

Non Indigenous Species

In the fresh waters of Sardinia (Italy), the non-indigenous crayfish species Procambarus clarkii has been reported from 2005, but, starting from 2019, there have been several reports of a new non-indigenous crayfish in southern and central areas of this Mediterranean island, and its morphology suggests that this species may be the marbled crayfish Procambarus virginalis. Forty-seven individuals of this putative species were analyzed, using the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I as molecular marker to identify this crayfish and investigate the level of genetic variability within the recently established population. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses were carried out on a dataset including sequences from the Sardinian individuals and from all congenerics available in GenBank. Results showed that the new Sardinian crayfish belong to the species P. virginalis. All the sequences belonging to P. virginalis from European countries are identical, with only few exceptions found among Sardinian individuals. In conclusion, this paper highlights the occurrence of a new further alien species in the Sardinian fresh waters, which are already characterized by the high presence of non-indigenous species.

Download Full-text

The chronic effects of terbuthylazine-2-hydroxy on early life stages of marbled crayfish ( Procambarus fallax f. virginalis )

Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology ◽

10.1016/j.pestbp.2016.08.008 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 136 ◽

pp. 29-33 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Dalibor Koutnik ◽

Alzbeta Stara ◽

Eliska Zuskova ◽

Antonin Kouba ◽

Josef Velisek

Keyword(s):

Early Life ◽

Life Stages ◽

Early Life Stages ◽

Procambarus Fallax ◽

Chronic Effects ◽

Marbled Crayfish

Download Full-text

Faculty Opinions recommendation of Genome analysis of the monoclonal marbled crayfish reveals genetic separation over a short evolutionary timescale.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.739436110.793582412 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ingo Schlupp

Keyword(s):

Genome Analysis ◽

Marbled Crayfish

Download Full-text

Environmental enrichment reduces aggression of pearl cichlid, Geophagus brasiliensis, during resident-intruder interactions

Neotropical Ichthyology ◽

10.1590/s1679-62252010000200011 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 329-332 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Vivian Oliveira Kadry ◽

Rodrigo Egydio Barreto

Keyword(s):

Habitat Complexity ◽

Environmental Enrichment ◽

Geophagus Brasiliensis ◽

Prior Residence ◽

Enriched Environments ◽

Enrichment Condition ◽

Resident Intruder

Among fishes, when residents and intruders fight, residents usually win, most likely because they value the residence more than intruders. We hypothesized that enriched environments increase the value of an area in dispute, causing a resident to more fiercely defend a resource-rich environment than a poor one. However, in the present study, intruder-resident tests with the pearl cichlid, Geophagus brasiliensis, showed environmental enrichment actually reduces aggression and can even lead to co-habitation without fighting. Additionally, in our experiments, the prior residence effect occurred irrespective of enrichment condition. Decreased visibility from increased habitat complexity reduces interactions between fish and consequently might explain the lower aggression observed herein.

Download Full-text

Expansion of the marbled crayfish in Slovakia: beginning of an invasion in the Danube catchment?

Journal of Limnology ◽

10.4081/jlimnol.2016.1313 ◽

2016 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Boris Lipták ◽

Agata Mrugała ◽

Ladislav Pekárik ◽

Anton Mutkovič ◽

Daniel Gruľa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Horizontal Transmission ◽

Local Population ◽

Danube River ◽

Exotic Fish ◽

The Danube River ◽

Procambarus Fallax ◽

Danube Catchment ◽

The Status ◽

Marbled Crayfish ◽

Two Populations

The marbled crayfish, Procambarus fallax f. virginalis, is a taxon widely available in the aquarium pet trade, which has been introduced to open waters in several European countries and in Madagascar. Recent studies confirmed this parthenogenetically reproducing crayfish as a high-risk invasive species, and vector of the crayfish plague pathogen, Aphanomyces astaci. It has been first discovered in Slovakia in 2010, but the status of the local population was not studied since then. Due to enlarged sampling area around the first report and one locality, where we presupposed the crayfish occurrence, we identified new marbled crayfish populations. Here, we report presence of three newly established marbled crayfish populations in Slovakia. Two populations are located critically close to the Váh River, a major tributary of the Danube River; one of them being directly connected to the Váh River via a side channel during occasional floods. The third established marbled crayfish population was found at the mouth of a thermal stream flowing into the Nitra River, a tributary of the Váh River. In this stream, crayfish coexist with other exotic fish and gastropod species of aquarium origin. We presume that the reported localities may serve as a source for further expansion of the marbled crayfish in the mid-part of the Danube catchment. Floods, active dispersal (including overland), passive dispersal by zoochory or anthropogenic translocations are among the major drivers facilitating the marbled crayfish colonization. We have not detected the crayfish plague pathogen in any of the studied populations. However, if spreading further, the marbled crayfish will encounter established populations of crayfish plague carriers in the Danube River, in which case they may acquire the pathogen by horizontal transmission and contribute to spread of this disease to indigenous European crayfish species.

Download Full-text

The Influence of Heavy Metal Ions on the Viability and Metabolic Enzyme Activity of the Marbled Crayfish Procambarus virginalis (Lyko, 2017)

International Letters of Natural Sciences ◽

10.18052/www.scipress.com/ilns.70.11 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 70 ◽

pp. 11-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Oleg Marenkov ◽

Mykola V. Prychepa ◽

Julia Kovalchuk

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Enzyme Activity ◽

Metal Ions ◽

Heavy Metal Ions ◽

Physiological State ◽

Metabolic Enzyme ◽

Nickel Ions ◽

The Individual ◽

Marbled Crayfish

In the experiment with marbled crayfishProcambarusvirginalis(Lyko, 2017), chronic effects of various concentrations of heavy metal ions on the physiological state and enzyme activity were investigated. The obtained results showed that among the investigated heavy metals nickel ions influenced the weight indexes and mortality of crustaceans the most negatively. According to the results of the research, significant changes were noted in the individual biochemical parameters of marbled crayfish under the influence of manganese, lead and nickel ions. The most significant changes in the activity of lactate dehydrogenase were detected in muscle tissues affected by manganese and nickel ions. A significant decrease in the activity of succinate dehydrogenase in muscle of marbled crayfish was determined after the action of heavy metal ions. Investigation of changes in the activity of alkaline phosphatase under the influence of the ions of manganese, lead and nickel has its own characteristics, which indicates certain violations in the tissues of cell membranes. Changes in the activity of enzymes were also reflected in the overall protein content. Changes in these parameters may indicate a rapid biochemical response of crustaceans to the toxic effects of heavy metals.

Download Full-text