Publication details for Dr Martyn Lucas

Bubb, DH, Thom, TJ & Lucas, MC (2005). The within-catchment invasion of the non-indigenous signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana), in upland rivers. Bulletin Francais de la Peche et de la Pisciculture (376-37): 665-673.

• Publication type: Journal Article
• ISSN/ISBN: 0767-2861
• Keywords: Pacifastacus leniusculus; Austropotamobius pallipes; freshwatercrayfish; colonisation; invasionBRITISH LOWLAND RIVER; INTRODUCED CRAYFISH; ASTACUS-ASTACUS

Author(s) from Durham

• Dr Martyn Lucas

Abstract

The American signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus, is an invasive
species from North America that has been widely introduced through
Europe, where it is a major threat to native European crayfish species
and causing increasing concern because of its impact on the wider
aquatic ecosystem. Although widely considered invasive, little is known
of the rates of invasion and colonisation. The temporal and spatial
pattern of spread of signal crayfish populations in two upland rivers
in Northern England is described. Range expansion of up to 2.4 km
year(-1) were recorded from an established population, but rates over
an order of magnitude less were recorded in the initial stages of
establishment. Range expansion of both populations was strongly biased
in a downstream direction, which has implications for directing
possible management efforts and determining the timescale of threat
which expanding signal crayfish populations pose.