Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstrasse 7, 76829, Landau, Germany.
BMC Ecol. 2019 Feb 6;19(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s12898-019-0224-1.
The marbled crayfish (Procambarus virginalis) is a monoclonal, parthenogenetically reproducing freshwater crayfish species that has formed multiple stable populations worldwide. Madagascar hosts a particularly large and rapidly expanding colony of marbled crayfish in a unique environment characterized by a very high degree of ecological diversity.
Here we provide a detailed characterization of five marbled crayfish populations in Madagascar and their habitats. Our data show that the animals can tolerate a wide range of ecological parameters, consistent with their invasive potential. While we detected marbled crayfish in sympatry with endemic crayfish species, we found no evidence for the transmission of the crayfish plague pathogen, a potentially devastating oomycete. Furthermore, our results also suggest that marbled crayfish are active predators of the freshwater snails that function as intermediate hosts for human schistosomiasis. Finally, we document fishing, farming and market sales of marbled crayfish in Madagascar.
Our results provide a paradigm for the complex network of factors that promotes the invasive spread of marbled crayfish. The commercial value of the animals is likely to result in further anthropogenic distribution.
大理石纹螯虾（Procambarus virginalis）是一种单克隆、孤雌生殖的淡水螯虾物种，已在全球范围内形成了多个稳定的种群。马达加斯加拥有一个特别大且迅速扩张的大理石纹螯虾群体，生活在一个生态多样性极高的独特环境中。
在这里，我们详细描述了马达加斯加的五个大理石纹螯虾种群及其栖息地。我们的数据表明，这些动物可以耐受广泛的生态参数，这与它们的入侵潜力一致。虽然我们在与地方特有螯虾物种共存的地方检测到了大理石纹螯虾，但没有发现可能具有破坏性的卵菌病原体——螯虾瘟疫的传播证据。此外，我们的研究结果还表明，大理石纹螯虾是淡水蜗牛的活跃捕食者，而这些蜗牛是人类血吸虫病的中间宿主。最后，我们记录了大理石纹螯虾在马达加斯加的捕捞、养殖和市场销售情况。
我们的研究结果为大理石纹螯虾的入侵传播提供了一个复杂的因素网络范例。这些动物的商业价值可能会导致它们进一步被人为传播。
