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Crayfish plague affects juvenile survival and adult behaviour of invasive signal crayfish

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2020

John Rhidian Thomas Open the ORCID record for John Rhidian Thomas [Opens in a new window] ,
Chloe V. Robinson ,
Agata Mrugała ,
Amy R. Ellison ,
Emily Matthews ,
Siân W. Griffiths ,
Sofia Consuegra  and
Jo Cable
John Rhidian Thomas*
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, CardiffCF10 3AX, UK
Chloe V. Robinson
Affiliation:
Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, SwanseaSA2 8PP, UK
Agata Mrugała
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 2 CZ-12844, Czech Republic
Amy R. Ellison
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, CardiffCF10 3AX, UK
Emily Matthews
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, CardiffCF10 3AX, UK
Siân W. Griffiths
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, CardiffCF10 3AX, UK
Sofia Consuegra
Affiliation:
Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, SwanseaSA2 8PP, UK
Jo Cable
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, CardiffCF10 3AX, UK
*
Author for correspondence: John Rhidian Thomas, E-mail: Thomasjr6@cardiff.ac.uk
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Abstract

The spread of invasive, non-native species is a key threat to biodiversity. Parasites can play a significant role by influencing their invasive host's survival or behaviour, which can subsequently alter invasion dynamics. The North American signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) is a known carrier of Aphanomyces astaci, an oomycete pathogen that is the causative agent of crayfish plague and fatal to European crayfish species, whereas North American species are considered to be largely resistant. There is some evidence, however, that North American species, can also succumb to crayfish plague, though how A. astaci affects such ‘reservoir hosts’ is rarely considered. Here, we tested the impact of A. astaci infection on signal crayfish, by assessing juvenile survival and adult behaviour following exposure to A. astaci zoospores. Juvenile signal crayfish suffered high mortality 4-weeks post-hatching, but not as older juveniles. Furthermore, adult signal crayfish with high-infection levels displayed altered behaviours, being less likely to leave the water, explore terrestrial areas and exhibit escape responses. Overall, we reveal that A. astaci infection affects signal crayfish to a much greater extent than previously considered, which may not only have direct consequences for invasions, but could substantially affect commercially harvested signal crayfish stocks worldwide.

Keywords

Aphanomyces astacibehaviourcrayfish plagueinvasive speciesreservoir hostssignal crayfish
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 147 , Issue 6 , May 2020 , pp. 706 - 714
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

*

Present address: Bangor University, School of Natural Sciences, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK.

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