engleski

HABITAT REQUIREMENTS OF INDIGENOUS CRAYFISH IN AUSTRIA AND CROATIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR AQUATIC SPECIES CONSERVATION

The Austro-Croatian bilateral project „ Linking strategies in freshwater crayfish conservation between Austria and Croatia“ , was conducted during the years 2006-2007 where the biology and ecology of indigenous crayfish species in the two countries were studied. The main objective of the collaborative research was to improve and standardize research methodologies on crayfish for well-considered endangered species management and conservation. The European indigenous crayfish species, the stone crayfish, (Austropotamobius torrentium), the white-clawed crayfish (A. pallipes) and the noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) occur in both countries, but are threatened as well due to various anthropogenic impacts. Catchment, riparian and instream habitat characteristics were assessed in streams within the Nature Park Medvednica, some water bodies within the Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia) and several water bodies in the region Tyrol (Austria and Italy) where at least one of the three indigenous species occur. By the comparison of catchment/habitat parameters with crayfish population characteristics, and the subsequent analyses of the species’ most relevant parameters for developing healthy populations, we provide results for sustainable management strategies for the support and conservation of three European threatened crayfish species.

environmental assessment; stone crayfish; white-clawed crayfish; noble crayfish; physico-chemical parameters; FFH-directive

nije evidentirano