Population dynamics of noble Astacus astacus, narrow-clawed Pontastacus leptodactylus and spiny-cheek Faxonius limosus crayfish in water bodies of Belarus

Authors

  • Anatoly V. Alekhnovich Scientific and Practical Center for Bioresources of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

Keywords:

decapods, freshwater crayfish, population growth rate
Supporting Agencies
The author expresses his deep gratitude to employees of the Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Bioresources – K. Slivinska, D. V. Molotkov for help to sample specimens during joint expeditions that largely contributed to the appearance of this work.

Abstract

The growth rate of crayfish populations has been estimated – noble Astacus astacus, narrow-clawed Pontastacus leptodactylus, and spiny-cheek Faxonius limosus. The annual population growth rate of spiny-cheek crayfish was highest (3.02 year-1) and noble crayfish had lowest rate (1.44 year-1). Crayfish survival from larvae to sexual maturity was highest for the narrow-clawed crayfish (1.5 %) and lowest for the spiny-cheek crayfish (0.4 %). Pre-hatching fecundity of the spiny-cheek crayfish was 2.2 times higher than that for native species, but juvenile survival to sexual maturity was 3.6 times lower. The advantage that the spiny-cheek crayfish could have due to its high fecundity at the stage of growth and development of individuals completely disappears. The number of sexually mature females and their density ensure annual replenishment on a much larger scale. The main criterion of competitive advantages of the compared species is the rate of population increase. This indicator was maximal for Faxonius limosus.

Author Biography

  • Anatoly V. Alekhnovich, Scientific and Practical Center for Bioresources of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

    Phd (biology), docent; leading researcher at the laboratory of hydrobiology.

References

  1. Aklehnovich A, Razlutskij V. Distribution and rate of spread of spinycheek crayfish Orconectes limosus (Rafinesque, 1817) in Belarus. BioInvasions Records. 2013;2(3):221–225.
  2. Alekhnovich AV, Slivinska K, Molotkov DV. Potencialnie zapasy dlinnopaloga raka Astacus leptodactylus ozer i vodochranilitsh belorusskoi tchasty basseina Zapadnogo Buga [Potential reserves of narrow-clawed crayfish Astacus leptodactylus in lakes and reservoirs of the Belarusian part of the Western Bug basin]. Natural resources. 2018;1:65–71. Russian.
  3. Alekhnovich AV. Raki Belarusi v sovremennikh uslovijakh: rasprostranenia, dinamika populatii, produktia I promisloviy potencial [Crayfish of Belarus in modern conditions: distribution, population dynamics, production and commercial potential]. Minsk. Belaruskaja navuka; 2016. 303 p. Russian.
  4. Alekhnovich AV. Vozrastnaja struktura, plodovitost populatyi shirokopalogo raka zabroshenogo kar’era [Age structure, fecundity of the population of noble crayfish of abandoned quarries]. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Biological series. 2022; 67(1):75–83. https://doi.org/10.29235/1029-8940-2022-67-1-75-83. Russian.
  5. Kossacowski J. Crayfish Orconectes limosus in Poland. Freshwater Crayfish. 1974;2:31–47.
  6. Alimov AF. Vvedenia v produccionnuy gidrobiologiu [Introduction to production hydrobiology]. Leningrad: Gidrometioizdat; 1989. 151 р. Russian.
  7. Kozak P, Buric M, Policar T. The fecundity, time of egg development and juvenile production in spiny-cheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus) under controlled conditions. Bulletin français de la pêche et de la pisciculture. 2006;380(381):1171–1182.
  8. Ricklefs R. Osnovy ekologii [Fundamentals of General Ecology]. Moscow: Publishing House «Mir»; 1979. 424 p. Russian.
  9. Alekhnovich AV. Ozenka vizivaemosti promislovai tchasti population Astacus leptodactylus (Esch.) [Evaluation of survival of the commercial part of the narrow-clawed crayfish population Astacus leptodactylus (Esch.)]. Reports of the National Academy of Sciences. 2012;5:82–86. Russian.
  10. Alekhnovich AV. Comparative analysis of reproduction of narrow clawed crayfish Astacus leptodactylus Esch. (Crustacea, Decapoda, Astacidae) in its eastern area. Freshwater Crayfish. 1997;11:339–347.
  11. Alekhnovich AV. Plodovitost dlinnopalogo raka Pontastacus leptodactylus v vodoemach Belarusi [Fecundity of the narrow-clawed crayfish Pontastacus leptodactylus in the water bodies of Belarus]. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Biological series. 2023;68(2):147–153. https:// doi.org/10.29235/1029-8940-2023-68-2-147-153. Russian.
  12. Pilotto F, Free G, Crosa G, Sena F, Ghiani M, Cardoso AC. The Invasive Crayfish Orconectes Limosus in Lake Varese: Estimating Abundance and Population Size Structure in the Context of Habitat and Methodological Constraints. Journal of Crustacean Biology. 2008;28(4):633–640.
  13. Butler MJ, Stein RA. An analysis of the mechanisms governing species replacements in crayfish. Oecologia. 1985;66(2):168–177. DOI: 10.1007/BF0037985113.
  14. Chadwick DDA, Pritchard EG, Bradley P, Sayer CD, Chadwick MA, Eagle LJB, Axmacher JC. A novel ‘triple drawdown’ method highlights deficiencies in invasive alien crayfish survey and control techniques. Journal of Applied Ecology. 2021;58:316–326. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13758.
  15. Skurdal J & Taugbøl T. Astacus. In: Biology of freshwater Crayfish. Oxford: Blackwell Science Ltd; 2002. p. 467–510.
  16. Savolainen R, Westman K, Purstainen M. Fecundity of Finnish noble crayfish Astacus astacus L., and signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus, in various natural habitats and in culture. Freshwater Crayfish.1997;11:319–338.
  17. Cukerzis J. Astacus astacus in Europe. In: Holdich DM & Lowery RS (editors). Freshwater crayfish: biology, management and exploitation: . New York: Chapman & Haal; 1988. р. 309–340.
  18. Meyer KM, Gimpel K & Brandl R. Viability analisis of endangered crayfish populations. Journal of Zoology. 2007;273(4):364–371.
  19. Westman K, Savolainen R, Purstainen M. Development of European noble crayfish Astacus astacus (L.) and American signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana) populations in a small Finnish lake – a 20 year study. Freshwater Crayfish. 1995;8:235–248.
  20. Klefoth T, Bauschke S, Cetin A, Dührkoop L, Hohnhorst V, Rader V, Riemann P, Bohme J. Winter mortality and growth of juvenile noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) under realistic environmental conditions – Implications for conservation managementWinter mortality and growth of juvenile noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) under realistic environmental conditions – Implications for conservation management. Limnologica. 2023;103:126122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.limno.2023.126122.
  21. Vollestad LA, Dervo BK. Density and yield of the noble crayfish Astacus astacus in the River Skotsbergel. Fauna Norvegica. Seria A. 1990;11:27–33.
  22. Brodsky SYa. Visshie Raki [Fauna of Ukraine. Crayfish]. Kyiv: Naukova dumka; 1981. 212 p. Volume 26. Issue 3. Ukrainian.
  23. Alekhnovich, A. Characteristics of populations of narrow-clawed crayfish in three Belarusian Lakes of the Baltic Sea catchment area. Baltic Coastal Zone. Serie 1. 2022;25:19–30.
  24. Kozak P, Buřič M, Policar T, Hamačkova´ J, Lepičova A. The effect of inter- and intra-specific competition on survival and growth rate of native juvenile noble crayfish Astacus astacus and alien spiny-cheek crayfish Orconectes limosus. Hydrobiologia. 2007; 590(1):85–94.
  25. Hamr P. Orconectes. In: Holdich DM, editor. Biology of Freshwater Crayfish. London: Blackwell Science Ltd.; 2002. p. 585–608.
  26. Kawai T, Hamano T, Matsuura S. Survival and growth of the japanese crayfish Cambaroides japonicus in a small stream. Hokkaido bulletin of marine science. 1997;61(1):147–157.
  27. Kawai T, Miyake S and T. Hamano T. Individual density and reproduction of Cambaroides japonicus (de Haan, 1841) in the southernmost habitat. Researches on Crustacea. 1990;19:55–61.

Downloads

Published

2025-07-14

Issue

No. 2 (2025): Journal of the Belarusian State University. Ecology

Section

The Study and Rehabilitation of Ecosystems

How to Cite

[1]
Alekhnovich, A. 2025. Population dynamics of noble Astacus astacus, narrow-clawed Pontastacus leptodactylus and spiny-cheek Faxonius limosus crayfish in water bodies of Belarus. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Ecology. 2 (Jul. 2025), 11–21.