Biology:Procambarus clarkii

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Short description: Species of crustacean

Procambarus clarkii

Secure (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Family: Cambaridae
Genus: Procambarus
Species:
P. clarkii
Binomial name
Procambarus clarkii

Procambarus clarkii, known variously as the red swamp crayfish, Louisiana crawfish or mudbug,[3] is a species of cambarid crayfish native to freshwater bodies of northern Mexico, and southern and southeastern United States, but also introduced elsewhere (both in North America and other continents), where it is often an invasive pest.[1]

Appearance

P. clarkii is typically dark red, with long claws and head, small or no spines on the sides of its carapace just below the head, and rows of bright red bumps on the front and side of the first leg.[4]

Male red swamp crayfish have bigger claws than females.

Range and range expansion

Invasiveness

In Europe, P. clarkii has been included since 2016 in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern (the Union list).[5] This implies that this species cannot be imported, bred, transported, commercialized, or intentionally released into the environment in the whole of the European Union.[6]

In Holland the species threatens the survival of rare dragonflies. Native birds enjoy it as a food source. The authorities are running a campaign to exterminate the crays from Dutch waters using traps that make the crays easy prey for the birds.[7]

Ecology

P. clarkii, dorsal view

P. clarkii is most commonly found in warm freshwater bodies such as slow-flowing rivers, marshes, reservoirs, irrigation systems and rice paddies. It is considered to be the most ecologically plastic species in the order Decapoda and is able to grow quickly even in only seasonally present water, being able to tolerate dry spells of up to four months. P. clarkii grows quickly, and is capable of reaching weights over 50 g (1.8 oz) and sizes of 5.5–12 cm (2.2–4.7 in) long.[8] It is also able to tolerate slightly saline water, which is unusual for a crayfish. Additionally, P. clarkii are physiologically capable of tolerating relatively low dissolved oxygen concentrations.[9] The average lifetime of P. clarkii is five years, although some individuals are known to have reached ages (in nature) of over six years.[citation needed] The burrowing activities of P. clarkii can damage existing water courses and crops, particularly rice, and its feeding activities can disrupt native ecosystems. It may outcompete the native crayfish species and is a vector for the crayfish plague fungus Aphanomyces astaci, for crayfish virus vibriosis and for a number of parasitic worms on vertebrates. Their burrowing activities may also be a threat to civil infrastructure such as storm ponds and levees.[10]

In 2007, troglomorphic specimens of P. clarkii were found in central Portugal in the karst springs of the Rio Anços in the Sicó massif and of the Alviela River in the Estremenho massiff. In 2011, another cave-dwelling population was discovered in caves in the San Giuliano Terme municipality in the Province of Pisa in Italy. Both localities consist of karst landscapes with extensive cave formations. The Portuguese population is entirely depigmented, although pigmented specimens are present in nearby surface streams; the deepest recorded specimen was a male recovered at a depth of 240 metres (790 ft). 53% of Italian specimens displayed a blue-white coloration. The greater presence of pigmented individuals suggests either a more recent entrance, an external source of carotenoids, or movement between surface and underground waters. Collectively, these potations make up the first recorded instances of troglodytic crayfish in Europe. The invasive crayfish have the potential to pose an environmental threat to native stygobitic fauna, due to the crayfish's recorded ability to prey on diverse sources of food and the highly restricted ranges of native cave fauna.[11]

Economic importance

Global aquaculture production of Procambarus clarkii in million tonnes from 1975 to 2022, as reported by the FAO[12]

Harvests of P. clarkii for food account for a large majority of the crayfish produced in the United States and elsewhere. Crayfish farming began in Louisiana in the 18th century, taking place in rice fields in a concurrent or alternate culture system. The concurrent polyculture of rice and crayfish combination makes good use of land, resources, equipment and infrastructure already being used for rice production.

However, crayfish production has decreased in recent years due to an increase of imports from China, which is now the world's leading producer of farmed crayfish using a rice-based system.[13] A number of species of crustaceans were introduced to China to create markets for aquaculture and because they are better adapted to growing in a rice field than native fish species. Rice-fish farming originated in China and is once again growing as the yields from Green Revolution practices used to grow rice are no longer increasing, and resources such as land and water are becoming more limited.[14] Crayfish are also cultivated as animal feed for poultry farms, fish farms and Chinese edible frog farms, or used to add into organic fertilizers.

The introduction of P. clarkii has also resulted in economic losses in some regions. In the Baixo Mondego region of Portugal, it caused a decrease in 6.3% of profits in rice fields.[15] However, this was on a wet-seeded field. All negative effects of crayfish can be avoided if adult crayfish are separated from the seed and seedlings.[16]

As food

Boiled crawfish, Louisiana

P. clarkii is eaten in China, Cambodia, Thailand, Europe, Africa, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Caribbean. In the United States, crayfish are particularly popular in Louisiana, where the standard culinary terms vary between "crawfish", "crayfish", "crawdaddy" or "mudbug", and crawfish boils are popular social gatherings centered around eating the crustaceans.[17] Louisiana crawfish are usually boiled in a large pot with heavy seasoning (salt, cayenne pepper, lemon, garlic, bay leaf, etc.) and other items such as potatoes and corn on the cob. Many differing methods are used to season the dish, and there are an equal number of opinions on which one is correct.[18]

In 1990, Louisiana produced 90% of the crayfish in the world, and consumed 70% locally.[19] However, as early as 2003, Asian fish farms and fisheries produced more and continued to outpace production in any other part of the world. By 2018, P. clarkii crayfish production in the Americas represented just 4% of total global P. clarkii supply.[20] Louisiana crayfish remain in demand for local production and consumption. In 2018, 93% of crayfish farms in the US were located in Louisiana.[21]

Reproduction

Procambarus clarkii normally reproduces sexually, but research suggests it may also reproduce by parthenogenesis.[22]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Crandall, K.A. (2010). "Procambarus clarkii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T153877A4557336.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/153877/4557336. Retrieved 19 November 2021. 
  2. ↑ NatureServe. "Procambarus clarkii" (in en). Arlington, Virginia. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.117840/. 
  3. ↑ "Seafood List Search Returns". FDA Acceptable Seafood Name Database. 2008. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/SEARCH_SEAFOOD/index.cfm?other=complete. 
  4. ↑ "Procambarus clarkii". Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL.. USGS. 17 November 2016. https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=217. 
  5. ↑ "List of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern - Environment - European Commission". https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/list/index_en.htm. 
  6. ↑ "REGULATION (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European parliament and of the council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species". https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32014R1143&from=EN. 
  7. ↑ Geelen, Jean-Pierre (18 April 2026). "Operatie rivierkreeft de polder uit". De Volkskrant: pp. 28-29. 
  8. ↑ "Procambarus clarkii (crustacean)". Global Invasive Species Database. March 31, 2006. http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=608. 
  9. ↑ Bonvillain, Christopher P.; D. Allen Rutherford; William E. Kelso; Christopher C. Green (2012). "Physiological biomarkers of hypoxic stress in red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii from field and laboratory experiments". Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A 163 (1): 15–21. doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2012.04.015. PMID 22554447. 
  10. ↑ Metcalfe, John (31 August 2017). "Southern Crawfish Are the Newest Scourge to Northern Infrastructure". Citylab. https://www.citylab.com/environment/2017/08/the-new-threat-to-northern-infrastructure-louisiana-crawfish/538413/. 
  11. ↑ Mazza, Giuseppe; Sofia, Ana; Reboleira, P.S.; Goncalves, Fernando; Aquiloni, Laura; Inghilesi, Alberto; Spigoli, Daniele; Stoch, Fabio et al. (2014). "A New Threat to Groundwater Ecosystems: First Occurrences of the Invasive Crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) in European Caves". Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 86 (1): 62–65. doi:10.4311/2013LSC0115. 
  12. ↑ "Fisheries and Aquaculture - Global Production". https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/collection/global_production?lang=en. 
  13. ↑ W. Ray McClain; Robert P. Romaire. "Crawfish culture: A Louisiana aquaculture success story". World Aquaculture 35 (4): 31–35, 60–61. https://www.lsuagcenter.com/NR/rdonlyres/4CC1885B-EB28-49F7-AB7F-D47902372D2F/11410/WASArticle.pdf. 
  14. ↑ Miao Weimin (2010). "Recent Developments in Rice-Fish Culture in China: A Holistic Approach for Livelihood Improvement in Rural Areas". Success Stories in Asian Aquaculture. pp. 15–40. doi:10.1007/978-90-481-3087-0_2. ISBN 978-90-481-3087-0. 
  15. ↑ Pedto M. Anastácio; Vasco S. Parente; Alexandra M. Correia (2005). "Crayfish effects on seeds and seedlings: identification and quantification of damage". Freshwater Biology 50 (4): 697–704. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2427.2005.01343.x. 
  16. ↑ "Archived copy". https://estudogeral.sib.uc.pt/jspui/bitstream/10316/5448/1/file50b1ec0e12ad4323b6772dcd484668a8.pdf. 
  17. ↑ Kiniry, Laura (1 May 2014). "Why Crawfish Are Louisiana's Culinary Gift to the Nation". https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/why-crawfish-are-louisianas-culinary-gift-nation-180951261/. 
  18. ↑ How to Season a Crawfish Boil
  19. ↑ Larry W. de la Bretonne Jr.; Robert P. Romaire (1990). "Crawfish production: harvesting, marketing and economics". SRAC Publication (Southern Regional Aquaculture Center) 42. http://www.aquanic.org/publicat/usda_rac/efs/srac/242fs.pdf. 
  20. ↑ "Global Aquaculture Production: Procambarus clarkii, 1990-2018". Food And Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. http://www.fao.org/figis/servlet/SQServlet?file=/usr/local/tomcat/8.5.16/figis/webapps/figis/temp/hqp_7058869486391224748.xml&outtype=html. 
  21. ↑ "Table 18. Crustacean Sales by Species: 2018 and 2013". USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2017/Online_Resources/Aquaculture/aqua_1_0018_0018.pdf. 
  22. ↑ G. H. Yue; G. L. Wang; B. Q. Zhu; C. M. Wang; Z .Y. Zhu; L. C. Lo (2008). "Discovery of four natural clones in a crayfish species Procambarus clarkii". International Journal of Biological Sciences 4 (5): 279–282. doi:10.7150/ijbs.4.279. PMID 18781225. 

Further reading

  • M. James Norrocky (1991). "Observations on the ecology, reproduction and growth of the burrowing crayfish Fallicambarus (Creaserinus) fodiens (Decapoda: Cambaridae) in North-central Ohio". American Midland Naturalist 125 (1): 75–86. doi:10.2307/2426371. 

Template:Edible crustaceans

Wikidata ☰ Q1133124 entry



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