engleski

Distribution and population characteristics of the invasive alien crayfish in Croatia

Invasive species are one of the most important components of global environmental change, contributing to the biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation and impairment of ecosystem services worldwide. In this dissertation I examined the distribution, dispersal rates, population characteristics and its changes along invasion pathway and potential outcomes of interspecific interactions of two highly successful invaders of European freshwaters, the signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) and the spiny-cheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus). Both species have recently invaded Croatian water bodies, and will co-occur in the same river system in near future. Spatiotemporal analyses showed that both species are experiencing fast downstream dispersal, with P. leniusculus reaching the highest dispersal rates recorded in Europe. Analyses of population characteristics of P. leniusculus along invasion pathway identified males as initial dispersers, while experimental research demonstrated the potential negative fitness consequences for O. limosus in future contact zones with P. leniusculus which may eventually decrease its invasion potential and lead to its displacement by the dominant competitor.

invasive species; freshwater invasion; range expansion; population characteristics; interspecies competition; crayfish

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