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Functional traits explain crayfish invasive success in the Netherlands
Tiedo van Kuijk1,2, Jacobus C Biesmeijer3,4, Berry B van der Hoorn3
1Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands. tiedo.vankuijk@naturalis.nl.
Scientific Reports
|February 3, 2021
Summary
Functional traits predict invasive success in crayfish. Key traits include native temperate climate, high egg counts, and multiple clutches per year, aiding ecological risk management.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Invasive Species Biology
Background:
- Biological invasions by nonindigenous species pose significant ecological and economic threats.
- Understanding the factors driving invasion success is crucial for effective management and prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the role of functional traits in crayfish invasion stages.
- To identify specific traits associated with successful invasion by nonindigenous crayfish species.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated thirteen functional traits across 15 crayfish species present in the Netherlands.
- Compared trait data of invasive and non-invasive crayfish to identify distinguishing characteristics.
Main Results:
- Six of the 15 evaluated crayfish species were identified as invasive.
- Successful invaders exhibited traits such as native temperate climate, medium to high egg counts, and multiple egg clutches annually.
- Distinct trait combinations characterized the most successful invaders, including high reproductive output, migration capability, and aggression (Procambarus clarkii), or cold adaptation, parthenogenesis, and broad environmental tolerance (Faxonius limosus).
Conclusions:
- Functional traits provide a mechanistic understanding of invasion dynamics.
- Analyzing functional traits aids in predicting invasive potential and informing risk management for biological invasions.
- Procambarus virginalis is predicted to be the next successful invasive crayfish in the Netherlands based on its traits.
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