Principal source: Aquatic Nusiance Species Information System (ANSIS), 2007. Species Profiles: - Northern Crayfish
Davidson, Elizabeth W.; Jennifer Snyder; Donald Lightner; Gregory Ruthig; Julie Lucas; Joel Gilley, 2010. Exploration of potential microbial control agents for the invasive crayfish, Orconectes virilis. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 1360-0478, Volume 20, Issue 3, 2010, Pages 297 – 310
Biology of Northern Crayfish (Collicut, 1998)
Compiler: National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) & IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)
Review: Dr. Brian Hazlett. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. USA
Publication date: 2010-07-21
Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2024) Species profile: Orconectes virilis. Downloaded from http://iucngisd.org/gisd/speciesname/Orconectes+virilis on 31-08-2024.
O. virilis is known to alter and reduce macrophyte biomass and diversity (Chambers et al, 1990; Davidson et al, 2010; Olden et al, 2009). It may displace native crayfish as in the case of the endangered Pacifastacus nigrescens in California (Light et al, 1995); Orconectes obscurus and Cambarus bartonii in North Carolina (Cooper et al, 1998); and Orconectes limosus and Cambarus bartonii bartonii in Maryland (USA) (Schwartz et al, 1963). Field and laboratoy observations indicate that is may compete with and/or cause the decline of native fish species such as juvenile desert suckers (Catostomus clarkii), the Sonora sucker (Catostomus insignis), and the federally threatened Little Colorado spinedace (Lepidomeda vittata) in Arizona (Davidson et al, 2010; Bryan et al, 2002); the flannelmouth sucker (Catostomus latipinnis) in Colorado (Carpenter, 2005); and the White Sands pupfish (Cyprinodon tularosa) in New Mexico (Rogowski & Stockwell, 2006). It has been reported to contribute to the decline of the Chiricahua leopard frog (Rana chiricahuensis) in Arizona (Davidson et al, 2010). O. virilis is also known to cause the decline of native snails (ANSIS, 2007), as in the case of three forks spring snail (Pyrgulopsis trivialis) in Arizona (Davidson et al, 2010) and Canadian native snails Stagnicola elodes and Physa gyrina in laboratory studies (Hanson et al, 1990).
Additional impacts associated with O. virilis include the reduction of insects and other macroinvertebrates (Davidson et al, 2010; Hanson et al, 1990), the alteration of the structure and composition of littoral zones (Chambers et al, 1990), the increase in turbidity of waters (Davidson et al, 2010), and impacts to irrigation networks and levees as a result of their burrowing near head gates and weir boxes (Godfrey, 2002).
Biological control: The protection of sport fish and regulations that reduce their harvest in order to increase predation on Orconectes virilis is one potential means of reducing its populations (ANSIS, 2007).
A bacteria and the White Spot Syndrome Virus were examined for their effectiveness as potential biological controls for Orconectes virilis. The bacteria Spiroplama penaeiled led to 100% mortality when injected but body parts injected with S. penaeiled and fed to O. virilis did not induce mortality indicating that transmission via cannibalistic feeding is not viable. The White Spot Syndrome Virus yielded 100% mortality when injected or fed to all sizes of O. virilis indicating that it may be spread through cannibalistic feeding. WSSV did not infect non-target invertebrates but further research into this virus as well as other potential biological control agents for O. virilis is required before a viable one is found (Davidson et al, 2010).