The Crayfish Plague of The Crayfish Plague of Europe (1860-present)Europe (1860-present)

A case of a North American Native A case of a North American Native Species being introduced to Europe via Species being introduced to Europe via

ballast water transfer fromballast water transfer fromMaritime ShippingMaritime Shipping

By Lisa S. Bircher

History of the Crayfish Plague History of the Crayfish Plague ((Aphanomyces astaci)Aphanomyces astaci) in Europe: in Europe:

Introduced to Italy via ballast water discharge from Introduced to Italy via ballast water discharge from N. American ship in 1860N. American ship in 1860

Other countries it spread to: Sweden (1907), Other countries it spread to: Sweden (1907), Spain (1958), Norway (1971), United Kingdom Spain (1958), Norway (1971), United Kingdom (1981), Turkey (1984), Turkey (1987)(1981), Turkey (1984), Turkey (1987)

The plague has wiped out native populations of The plague has wiped out native populations of the noble European crayfish (the noble European crayfish (Astacus astacusAstacus astacus) ) almost to the point of extinction in some locationsalmost to the point of extinction in some locations

The signal crayfish (The signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) Pacifastacus leniusculus) has has been introduced as a replacement been introduced as a replacement

The noble European CrayfishThe noble European Crayfish((Astacus astacus)Astacus astacus)

The “best tasting” The “best tasting” crayfish in Europecrayfish in Europe

Considered Considered “vulnerable” (IUCN) “vulnerable” (IUCN) today because of the today because of the crayfish plaguecrayfish plague

Crayfish consumption Crayfish consumption in Europe (Sweden) is in Europe (Sweden) is used in many cultural used in many cultural festivities/feastsfestivities/feasts

The plague fungusThe plague fungus ( (Aphanomyces astaciAphanomyces astaci) )

Fungus attaches to the Fungus attaches to the shell of the crayfishshell of the crayfish

Fungus grows Fungus grows filaments that filaments that penetrate the shell into penetrate the shell into the soft tissue belowthe soft tissue below

Infected crayfish dies Infected crayfish dies in 6-10 daysin 6-10 days

Crayfish plague: Segment with brown (ventral) markings shows

signs of typical infection from fungus. Segments either side indicate healthy muscle tissue

Enter the Signal Crayfish…Enter the Signal Crayfish…((Pacifastacus leniusculus)Pacifastacus leniusculus)

1950s-60s the 1950s-60s the Swedish people Swedish people decided to introduce decided to introduce the signal crayfish as a the signal crayfish as a replacement for the replacement for the noble crayfishnoble crayfish

Signal crayfish are Signal crayfish are more resistant to the more resistant to the plague than the noble plague than the noble crayfishcrayfish

What happened after the signal What happened after the signal crayfish was introduced:crayfish was introduced:

Signal crayfish Signal crayfish increased the spread increased the spread of the plague to of the plague to previously unaffected previously unaffected populations of noble populations of noble crayfishcrayfish

Signal crayfish carry Signal crayfish carry the disease but do not the disease but do not die from itdie from it

Other non-native crayfish introduced Other non-native crayfish introduced to Europe after the crayfish plagueto Europe after the crayfish plague

Orconetes limosus Orconetes limosus native to the NE United native to the NE United StatesStates

Pacifastacus Pacifastacus leniusculusleniusculus native to native to Northwestern US and Northwestern US and Canada (signal Canada (signal crayfish)crayfish)

Procambarus clarkii Procambarus clarkii native to southern US native to southern US (Louisiana crayfish)(Louisiana crayfish)

Enter the Enter the Louisiana Crayfish… ((Procambarus clarkiiProcambarus clarkii) )

Introduction has Introduction has increased the spread increased the spread of the plague to even of the plague to even more populationsmore populations

Is able to out-compete Is able to out-compete the native crayfish, the native crayfish, especially in clear especially in clear waterwater

Is able to survive poor Is able to survive poor quality water and move quality water and move overland to other overland to other habitatshabitats

Other effects as a result of the Other effects as a result of the introduction of non-native crayfish:introduction of non-native crayfish:

Re-introduced the fatal plague to other Re-introduced the fatal plague to other crayfish populations in Europecrayfish populations in Europe

Reduced biological diversityReduced biological diversity Disrupted host environment and communityDisrupted host environment and community Provided a now permanent source of plague Provided a now permanent source of plague

fungusfungus Reduced fisheries in EuropeReduced fisheries in Europe Changed the diet of indigenous mammals in Changed the diet of indigenous mammals in

EuropeEurope

Controlling ballast water discharge to Controlling ballast water discharge to reduce chance of more species reduce chance of more species introductions (Maritime shipping)introductions (Maritime shipping)

““the prevention, reduction the prevention, reduction or elimination of the or elimination of the transfer of harmful aquatic transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens organisms and pathogens through the control and through the control and management of ships' management of ships' ballast water and ballast water and sediments, consistent with sediments, consistent with international law” international law” (International Maritime (International Maritime Organization)Organization)

Ballast water discharge in port

Better techniques for managing Better techniques for managing ballast water will reduce future ballast water will reduce future

species introductionsspecies introductionsTechniques for treating ballast water:Techniques for treating ballast water:

*filtration*filtration

*ultraviolet irradiation*ultraviolet irradiation

*deoxygenation*deoxygenation

*cyclonic separators*cyclonic separators

*biocides*biocides

*thermal energy*thermal energy

Just to name a few!Just to name a few!

Questions?

Astacus astacus

ReferencesReferences http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crayfish_plagueen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crayfish_plague http://other-invertebrates.suite101.com/article.cfm/european_crayfishhttp://other-invertebrates.suite101.com/article.cfm/european_crayfish http://www.mimbon.de/archiv16/01.jpghttp://www.mimbon.de/archiv16/01.jpg (noble crayfish image) (noble crayfish image) http://www.naturephoto-cz.eu/jokirapu-pic-2514.htmlhttp://www.naturephoto-cz.eu/jokirapu-pic-2514.html (noble crayfish image) http://www.biol.pmf.hr/rakovi/images/A (noble crayfish image) http://www.biol.pmf.hr/rakovi/images/A

%20astacus%20aa.jpg (noble crayfish image)%20astacus%20aa.jpg (noble crayfish image) http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/2191/summhttp://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/2191/summ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astacus_astacushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astacus_astacus http://www.naturephoto-cz.eu/astacus-astacus-picture-2507.htmlhttp://www.naturephoto-cz.eu/astacus-astacus-picture-2507.html (noble crayfish image on title page) (noble crayfish image on title page) http://www.boatnerd.com/news/newpictures02/paulrtregurtha6-01-02mn-pg.jpghttp://www.boatnerd.com/news/newpictures02/paulrtregurtha6-01-02mn-pg.jpg (Great Lakes freighter) (Great Lakes freighter) http://www.dlc.fi/~marianna/gourmet/crayfish.htmhttp://www.dlc.fi/~marianna/gourmet/crayfish.htm http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.disease-watch.com/documents/CD/index/images/http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.disease-watch.com/documents/CD/index/images/

cp1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.disease-watch.com/documents/CD/index/html/cp1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.disease-watch.com/documents/CD/index/html/cp001cra.htm&h=170&w=263&sz=12&hl=en&start=5&tbnid=vg-y4RVgajhwtM:&tbnh=72&tbnw=112&prev=/imagescp001cra.htm&h=170&w=263&sz=12&hl=en&start=5&tbnid=vg-y4RVgajhwtM:&tbnh=72&tbnw=112&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcrayfish%2Bplague%2BAphanomyces%2Bastaci%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3D (crayfish %3Fq%3Dcrayfish%2Bplague%2BAphanomyces%2Bastaci%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3D (crayfish plague image) plague image)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_crayfishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_crayfish (signal crayfish image) (signal crayfish image) http://www.waterhabitats.co.uk/Images/clip_image004_0028.jpg (signal crayfish image)http://www.waterhabitats.co.uk/Images/clip_image004_0028.jpg (signal crayfish image) http://www.american.edu/ted/crayfish.htmhttp://www.american.edu/ted/crayfish.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Procambarus_clarkii.jpg (Louisiana crayfish image) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Procambarus_clarkii.jpg (Louisiana crayfish image) http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/marine/problems/shipping/alien_invaders/index.cfm (image of ship http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/marine/problems/shipping/alien_invaders/index.cfm (image of ship

releasing ballast water in port) releasing ballast water in port) http://www.imo.org/Conventions/mainframe.asp?topic_id=867http://www.imo.org/Conventions/mainframe.asp?topic_id=867 http://skandland.com/images/crayfish4.gif (cartoon man eating crayfish)http://skandland.com/images/crayfish4.gif (cartoon man eating crayfish) Great Ships for the Great Lakes? Commercial vessels free of invasive species in the Great Lakes- St. Lawrence Great Ships for the Great Lakes? Commercial vessels free of invasive species in the Great Lakes- St. Lawrence

Seaway System, A scoping report for the Great Ships Initiative by Allegra Cangelosi and Nicole Mays, Northeast-Seaway System, A scoping report for the Great Ships Initiative by Allegra Cangelosi and Nicole Mays, Northeast-Midwest Institute, May 2006, www.nemw.orgMidwest Institute, May 2006, www.nemw.org