<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Invasive species are those that have been transferred by humans out of their natural range. Native crayfish species in Polish waters include: <italic>Astacus astacus</italic> and <italic>Pontastacus leptodactylus</italic>, whereas invasive species are: <italic>Pacifastacus leniusculus</italic>, <italic>Faxonius limosus</italic>, <italic>Procambarus clarkii</italic> and <italic>Procambarus virginalis</italic>. The objective of this study was to determine how abiotic and biotic environmental factors contribute to interspecific competition of Polish crayfish based on the available literature. Abiotic factors affecting the interspecific competition include tolerance to extreme pH values, calcium ion content, temperature, oxygenation, water salinity, preferred substrate and the type of water bodies. Biotic factors are, inter alia, pathogens, food base, plant cover and interactions in the prey–predator system, as well as interactions between crayfish species. The most important abiotic factors are water temperature and oxygenation, while the most important biotic factor is the crayfish plague – a deadly disease for native species. Each invasive species has a different set of traits and adaptations that enable a successful invasion. However, a successful invasion of a given species is not determined by one, but many adaptations that coexist.</p></abstract>

Invasive species are those that have been transferred by humans out of their natural range. Native crayfish species in Polish waters include: Astacus astacus and Pontastacus leptodactylus, whereas invasive species are: Pacifastacus leniusculus, Faxonius limosus, Procambarus clarkii and Procambarus virginalis. The objective of this study was to determine how abiotic and biotic environmental factors contribute to interspecific competition of Polish crayfish based on the available literature. Abiotic factors affecting the interspecific competition include tolerance to extreme pH values, calcium ion content, temperature, oxygenation, water salinity, preferred substrate and the type of water bodies. Biotic factors are, inter alia, pathogens, food base, plant cover and interactions in the prey–predator system, as well as interactions between crayfish species. The most important abiotic factors are water temperature and oxygenation, while the most important biotic factor is the crayfish plague – a deadly disease for native species. Each invasive species has a different set of traits and adaptations that enable a successful invasion. However, a successful invasion of a given species is not determined by one, but many adaptations that coexist.

The role of abiotic and biotic factors in interspecific competition of Polish crayfish – comprehensive literature review

Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Invasive species are those that have been transferred by humans out of their natural range. Native crayfish species in Polish waters include: Astacus astacus...

The role of abiotic and biotic factors in interspecific competition of Polish crayfish – comprehensive literature review

Article Category: Review paper

Published Online: Nov 26, 2020

Page range: 428 - 441

Received: Mar 05, 2020

Accepted: May 15, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ohs-2020-0038

© 2020 Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Poland

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.