engleski

Fitness benefits of dispersal – changes in codition of the signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus, Dana) along invasion pathway in the Korana river

Invasive alien species are one of the major causes of biodiversity loss and degradation of ecosystem services around the world. The ability of rapid range expansion is one of the key determinants of invasive species success. However, our understanding of mechanisms and drivers of rapid range expansion is still limited. The aim of this research was to analyze the potential benefits of dispersal on fitness of invasive species by using invasive signal crayfish expansion in the Korana River as a case study. We explored this issue by analyzing potential differences between signal crayfish condition in populations at invasion fronts (low density populations) and in ‘core’ populations in the center of its distribution in the Korana (high density populations). Laboratory analyses of body and organosomatic condition indices revealed that individuals from populations at invasion fronts were generally in better condition compared to individuals from ‘core’ populations of high density. Recorded differences derive from differences in density between these populations and the resulting lower intraspecific competition and higher resource availability in populations at invasion fronts. The gonadal condition was significantly better in females from invasion fronts, which corroborates the hypothesis that investment in reproduction is higher at invasion front. As better condition may accelerate individual growth rates and maturation and increase reproduction investment, these factors may increase the population growth rates and dispersal, and thus increase the invasion potential of the signal crayfish.

: invasive alien species ; dispersal ; signal crayfish ; condition ; Korana River

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