Original paper

A previously undescribed set of Saprolegnia spp. in the invasive spiny-cheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus, Rafinesque)

Hirsch, Philipp Emanuel; Nechwatal, Jan; Fischer, Philipp

Fundamental and Applied Limnology Volume 172 Nr. 2 (2008), p. 161 - 165

published: Sep 5, 2008

DOI: 10.1127/1863-9135/2008/0172-0161

BibTeX file

ArtNo. ESP141017202007, Price: 29.00 €

Download preview PDF Buy as PDF

Abstract

Coinciding with a population decline in the invasive spiny-cheek crayfish Orconectes limosus in Lake Constance, SW Germany, we found crayfish specimens with a fungus-like Aufwuchs which after DNA-isolation and sequencing was identified as consisting of a set of previously undescribed Saprolegnia species. This finding may have implications for the farming and conservation of native crayfish as well as for the lake's ecosystem. We propose that spiny-cheek crayfish might function as a disease vector for these potential pathogens.

Keywords

oomycetes • invasive crayfish • population dynamics • lake constance