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How consumption and fragmentation of macrophytes by the invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii shape the macrophyte communities of temporary ponds
Crayfish are major herbivores in freshwaters, and their activity may change invaded freshwater ecosystems. Macrophyte removal by crayfish results from consumption and fragmentation of plant material and may depend upon the palatability of each species. We studied the impact of Procambarus clarkii on...
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Published in: | Hydrobiologia 2014, Vol.721 (1), p.89-98 |
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Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Crayfish are major herbivores in freshwaters, and their activity may change invaded freshwater ecosystems. Macrophyte removal by crayfish results from consumption and fragmentation of plant material and may depend upon the palatability of each species. We studied the impact of
Procambarus clarkii
on the macrophyte community of Mediterranean temporary ponds, testing in laboratory if consumption and fragmentation of five macrophyte species were correlated in palatability tests and in a preference test. We performed an experiment in a natural pond, where we introduced crayfish and estimated its effects on macrophyte biomass, number of rooted stalks and number of floating cut stalks.
P. clarkii
consumed preferably
Juncus heterophyllus
in both tests and avoided
Carex divisa
and
Ranunculus peltatus
in the preference test. In the presence of preferred species, consumption and fragmentation of the non-preferred species were heavily reduced. In the field trial, the “Crayfish” compartment had 31% less macrophyte biomass, 41% less rooted stalks and 92% more floating cut stalks. Crayfish may remove macrophyte species from the community sequentially, from the most to the least preferred species. Impacts of crayfish in temporary ponds may depend on time of invasion and on the composition of the macrophyte community. |
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ISSN: | 0018-8158 1573-5117 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s10750-013-1651-1 |