Abstract
The presence of the yabbie Cherax destructor in a number of wild aquatic systems in the Pilbara and Southwest Coast Drainage Divisions of Western Australia is documented. This is of great concern as all native freshwater crayfishes in Western Australia are endemic and restricted to the southwest, while the Pilbara Division has no native species. An introduced population of C. destructor was sampled monthly from the Hutt River (Pilbara Drainage Division) for determination of life-history and reproductive biology in a wild aquatic system in Western Australia for the first time. Proliferation in that system was attributed to specific traits including: attaining first maturity at the end of its first year of life; a protracted spawning period (July–January); relatively high mean ovarian fecundity of 210.2 (±9.24 S.E.); and a rapid growth rate (curvature parameter K = 0.78 and asymptotic orbital carapace length OCL∞ = 51.25 mm ascertained from a seasonal von Bertalanffy growth curve) that was comparable to the larger sympatric marron Cherax cainii in this system. The life-history characteristics of C. destructor in the Hutt River were typical of many other invasive crayfish species and it has the potential to impact the unique aquatic ecosystems and the endemic freshwater crayfish species of the region.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
U. Abdu G. Yeheskel A. Sagi (2000) ArticleTitleOocyte development and polypeptide dynamics during ovarian maturation in the red-claw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus Invertebrate Reproduction and Development 37 75–83
C. M. Austin (1985) ArticleTitleIntroduction of the yabbie, Cherax destructor (Decapoda: Parastacidae) into southwestern Australia Western Australian Naturalist 16 78–82
C. M. Austin B. Knott (1996) ArticleTitleSystematics of the freshwater crayfish genus Cherax Erichson (Decapoda: Parastacidae) in south-western Australia: electrophoretic, morphological and␣habitat variation Australian Journal of Zoology 44 223–258 Occurrence Handle10.1071/ZO9960223
C. M. Austin T. T. T. Nguyen M. M. Meewan D. R. Jerry (2003) ArticleTitleThe taxonomy and phylogeny of the ‘Cherax destructor’ complex (Decapoda:Parastacidae) examined using mitochondrial 16S sequences Australian Journal of Zoology 51 99–110 Occurrence Handle10.1071/ZO02054
S. J. Beatty D. L. Morgan H. S. Gill (2003) ArticleTitleThe reproductive biology of the large freshwater crayfish Cherax cainii in south-western Australia Marine and Freshwater Research 54 597–608 Occurrence Handle10.1071/MF02077
S. J. Beatty D. L. Morgan H. S. Gill (2004) ArticleTitleBiology of a translocated population of the large freshwater crayfish, Cherax cainii Austin and Ryan, 2002 in a Western Australian river Crustaceana 77 1329–1351 Occurrence Handle10.1163/1568540043166010
S. J. Beatty D. L. Morgan H. S. Gill (2005) ArticleTitleLife history and reproductive biology of the gilgie Cherax quinquecarinatus, a freshwater crayfish endemic to south-western Australia Journal of Crustacean Biology 25 251–262
R. J. H. Beverton S. J. Holt (1957) ArticleTitleOn the dynamics of exploited fish populations United Kingdom Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Fisheries Investigations, Series 2 IssueID19 533pp
IV M. J. Butler R. A. Stein (1985) ArticleTitleAn analysis of the mechanisms governing species replacements in crayfish Oecologia 66 168–177
S. Lestang Particlede N. Hall I. C. Potter (2003) ArticleTitleChanges in density, age composition, and growth rate of Portunus pelagicus in a large embayment in which fishing pressures and environmental conditions have been altered Journal of Crustacean Biology 23 908–919
F. Gherardi S. Barbaresi A. Raddi (1999) ArticleTitleThe agonistic behaviour in the red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii: functions of the chelae Freshwater Crayfish 12 233–243
P. J. Gutiérrez-Yurrita J. R. Latournerié-Cervera (1999) ArticleTitleEcological features of Procambarus digueti and Procambarus bouvieri (Cambaridae), two endemic crayfish species of Mexico Freshwater Crayfish 12 605–619
P. J. Gutiérrez-Yurrita C. Montes (1999) ArticleTitleBioenergetics and phenology of reproduction of the introduced red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, in Doñana National Park, Spain, and implications for species management Freshwater Biology 42 561–574 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2427.1999.00484.x
J. M. Hanson P. A. Chambers E. E. Prepas (1990) ArticleTitleSelective foraging by the crayfish Orconectes virilis and its impact on macroinvertebrates Freshwater Biology 2 69–80
R. C. Hanumara N. A. Hoenig (1987) ArticleTitleAn empirical comparison of a fit of linear and non-linear models for seasonal growth in fish Fisheries Research 5 351–381 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0165-7836(87)90053-1
A. M. Hill D. M. Sinars D. M. Lodge (1993) ArticleTitleInvasion of an occupied niche by the crayfish Orconectes rusticus: potential importance of growth and mortality Oecologia 94 303–306 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00317102
D. M. Holdich (1988) ArticleTitleThe dangers of introducing alien animals with particular reference to crayfish Freshwater Crayfish 7 15–30
J. A. Honan B. D. Mitchell (1995) ArticleTitleReproduction of Euastacus bispinosus Clark (Decapoda: Parastacidae), and trends in the reproductive characteristics of freshwater crayfish Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 46 485–499
P. Horwitz (1990) ArticleTitleThe translocation of freshwater crayfish in Australia: potential impact, the need for control and global relevance Biological Conservation 54 291–305 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0006-3207(90)90142-C
P. Horwitz M. Adams (2000) ArticleTitleThe systematics, biogeography and conservation status of species in the freshwater crayfish genus Engaewa Riek (Decapoda: Parastacidae) from south-western Australia Invertebrate Taxonomy 14 655–680
P. Horwitz B. Knott (1995) ArticleTitleThe distribution and spread of the yabbie Cherax destructor complex in Australia: speculations, hypotheses and the need for research Freshwater Crayfish 10 81–91
E. J. Jasinska B. Knott N. Poulter (1993) ArticleTitleSpread of the introduced yabbie, Cherax sp. (Crustacea: Decapoda: Parastacidae), beyond the natural range of freshwater crayfishes in Western Australia Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 76 67–69
Johnson, H. T., 1979. Reproduction, development and breeding activity in the freshwater crayfish Cherax destructor (Clark), M. Sc. Dissertation. University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
J. B. Jones (1981) ArticleTitleGrowth of two species of freshwater crayfish (Paranephrops spp.) in New Zealand New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 15 15–20
M. King (1995) Fisheries Biology, Assessment and Management. Fishing News Books Oxford England
D. M. Lodge M. W. Kershner J. E. Aloi A. P. Covich (1994) ArticleTitleEffects of an omnivorous crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) on a freshwater littoral food web Ecology 75 1265–1281
D. Lodge R. A. Stein K. M. Brown A. P. Covich C. Broenmark J. E. Garvey S. P. Klosiewski (1998) ArticleTitlePredicting impact of freshwater exotic species on native biodiversity: challenges in spatial scaling Australian Journal of Ecology 23 53–67
T. G. McRae B. D. Mitchell (1995) ArticleTitleStudies on ovarian development in the yabbie, Cherax albidus Freshwater Crayfish 10 521–531
T. G. McRae B. D. Mitchell (1997) ArticleTitleControl of ovarian rematuration in the yabbie, Cherax destructor (Clark) Freshwater Crayfish 11 299–310
B. J. Mills M. C. Geddes (1980) ArticleTitleSalinity tolerance and osmoregulation of the Australian freshwater crayfish Cherax destructor Clark (Decapoda: Parastacidae) Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 31 667–676
B. D. Mitchell R. O. Collins (1989) Development of field-scale intensive culture techniques for the commercial production of the yabbie (Cherax destructor/albidus). Centre for Aquatic Science Report 89 (1) Warnambool Institute of Advanced Education Warnambool, Victoria, Australia
W. T. Momot (1995) ArticleTitleRedefining the role of freshwater crayfish in aquatic ecosystems Reviews in Fisheries Science 3 33–63
W. T. Momot G. M. Leering (1986) ArticleTitleAggressive interaction between Pacifastacus lenuisculus and Orconectes virilis under laboratory conditions Freshwater Crayfish 6 87–93
D. L. Morgan D. C. Thorburn H. S. Gill (2003) ArticleTitleSalinization of southwestern Western Australian rivers and the implications for the inland fish fauna – the Blackwood River, a case study Pacific Conservation Biology 9 161–171
S. Morris J. Callaghan (1998) ArticleTitleThe emersion response of the Australian yabbie Cherax destructor to environmental hypoxia and the respiratory and metabolic responses to consequent air-breathing Journal of Comparative Physiology B 168 389–398 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s003600050158
N. M. Morrissy (1975) ArticleTitleSpawning variation and its relationship to growth rate and density in the marron, Cherax tenuimanus (Smith) Fisheries Research Bulletin of Western Australia 16 1–32
N. M. Morrissy (1978) ArticleTitleThe past and present distribution of marron, Cherax tenuimanus, in Western Australia Fisheries Research Bulletin of Western Australia 22 1–38
N. M. Morrissy G. Cassells (1992) ArticleTitleSpread of the introduced yabbie Cherax albidus Clark 1936 in Western Australia Fisheries Research Bulletin of Western Australia 92 1–27
P. B. Nyström W. Bronmark C. Graneli (1996) ArticleTitlePatterns in benthic food webs: a role for omnivorous crayfish? Freshwater Biology 36 631–646 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2427.1996.d01-528.x
P. Nyström C. Bronmark W. Graneli (1999) ArticleTitleInfluence of an exotic and a native crayfish species on a littoral benthic community Oikos 85 545–553
P. B. Nyström J. A. Strand (1996) ArticleTitleGrazing by a native and an exotic crayfish on aquatic macrophytes Freshwater Biology 36 673–682 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2427.1996.d01-508.x
T. L. Olsen D. M. Lodge G. M. Capelli R. J. Houlihan (1991) ArticleTitleMechanisms of impact of an introduced crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) on littoral congeners, snails, and macrophytes Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 48 1853–1861
D. Pauly (1980) ArticleTitleOn the interrelationship between natural mortality, growth parameters and mean environmental temperature in 175 fish stocks J. Cons. int. Explor. Mer. 39 175–192
D. Pauly (1983) ArticleTitleLength-converted catch curves: a powerful tool for fisheries research in the tropics (part 1) Fishbyte 1 9–13
C. R. Pavey D. R. Fielder (1996) ArticleTitleThe influence of size differential on agonistic behaviour in the freshwater crayfish, Cherax cuspidatus (Decapoda, Parastacidae) Journal of Zoology 238 445–447
T. J. II. Quinn R. B. Deriso (1999) Quantitative Fish Dynamics Blackwell Science, Oxford United Kingdom
J. D. Reynolds (2002) Growth and reproduction D. M. Holdich (Eds) The Biology of Freshwater Crayfish Blackwell Science, Oxford United Kingdom, 152–191
W. E. Ricker (1975) ArticleTitleComputation and interpretation of biological statistics of fish populations Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin 76 191
D. B. Rouse H. S. Yeh (1995) ArticleTitleFactors influencing spawning of Cherax quadricarinatus in indoor hatcheries Freshwater Crayfish 10 605–610
J. Schnute D. A. Fournier (1980) ArticleTitleA new approach to length–frequency analysis: growth structure Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 37 1337–1351
P. Stenroth P. Nyström (2003) ArticleTitleExotic crayfish in a brown water stream: effects on juvenile trout, invertebrates and algae Freshwater Biology 48 466–475 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2427.2003.01020.x
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Beatty, S., Morgan, D. & Gill, H. Role of Life History Strategy in the Colonisation of Western Australian Aquatic Systems by the Introduced Crayfish Cherax destructor Clark, 1936. Hydrobiologia 549, 219–237 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-005-5443-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-005-5443-0