Ecological Impacts of Signal Crayfish in Welsh rivers
Masters Research
Start Date: 3rd January 2012
Funding:
Studentship is fully funded by Environment Agency Wales to study MPhil (12 months), i.e. includes the payment of tuition fees at the Home/EU rate and a tax free maintenance stipend. Studentship is open to Home/EU applicants only.
Supervisors: Dr J Cable and Dr Ian Vaughan
Advisors: Prof S J Ormerod, Dr Sian Griffiths and Dr Fred Slater
Project details:
Environment Agency Wales (EAW) has a statutory responsibility to protect priority species and improve the status of freshwater ecosystems. Doing so effectively requires an understanding how different natural and anthropogenic stressors affect ecological interactions in stream communities. The invasive non-native signal crayfish is widespread in Britain and poses a well-documented threat to native crayfish. There are also potential impacts on wider ecological status through a) negative effects on wider invertebrate communities (Crawford et al. 2006); b) competitive interactions with native fish (Bubb et al. 2009); and c) on river morphology through borrowing and sediment mobilisation (Mathew et al. 2011). Any of these effects might compromise progress towards good ecological status under the terms of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), yet the risks and effects have never been appraised quantitatively. This Master’s studentship by research will:
- provide insights into the interactions between signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) and other organisms that will allow EAW and others to improve prediction, understanding, management and mitigation of their impacts on priority species and stream communities in Wales;
- quantify factors affecting the distribution of signal crayfish and native crayfish (Austopotamobius pallipes) to aid in both risk assessment and in the identification of potential ‘Ark’ sites to protect native crayfish
- carry out surveys to test predictive models, and to strengthen partnerships between professional University biologists and river NGOs to enhance the wider surveillance of signal crayfish distribution in Welsh rivers.
References:
Bubb DH et al. (2006) Movement, dispersal and refuge use of co-occurring introduced and native crayfish. Freshwater Biol 51:1359-1368.
Bubb DH et al. (2009) Relative impacts of native and non-native crayfish on shelter use by an indigenous benthic fish. Aquatic Cons-Mar. Freshwater Ecosyst 19: 448-455.
Crawford et al. (2006) The impact of introduced signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus on stream invertebrate communities. Aquatic Cons-Mar. Freshwater Ecosyst 16: 611-621.
Edgerton BF et al. (2002) Synopsis of freshwater crayfish diseases and commensal organisms. Aquaculture 206:57-135.
Environment Agency (1997). 1997 River Habitat Survey Form. Environment Agency, UK.
Environment Agency (2003) River Habitat Survey in Britain and Ireland.
Johnson et al. (2011) Increase in coarse sediment transport associated with disturbance of gravel river beds by signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus). Earth Surface Proc Landforms 36: 1680-1692.
Longshaw M (2011) Diseases of crayfish: A review. J Invert Pathol 106:54-70.
Peay S (2000) Guidance on works affecting white-clawed crayfish. Environment Agency and English Nature FIN/CON/139.
Peay S (2002) Monitoring Protocol for White-clawed Crayfish, Field Testing in River Eden Tributaries, Summer 2002. Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers. English Nature, Peterborough.
Sibley PJ et al. (2002) Monitoring the distribution of crayfish in England and Wales. Bull Fran Pêche Piscic 367:833-844.
Smith R, Slater FM (2009) The South East Wales Crayfish Project: Work to Inform Choice of Donor -and Ark (receptor) Sites for White-Clawed Crayfish Translocation. Report for Environment Agency Wales.
The work will be carried out in Cardiff School of Biosciences which is known worldwide for its freshwater science.
Eligibility criteria:
Candidates must be eligible for UK/EU fee status and should hold a First or Upper Second Class Honours BSc degree and/or a Masters degree, or equivalent degree. The candidate must hold a valid UK driving licence, have some fieldwork experience and a good working knowledge of statistics.
How to apply:
To apply, complete the online application form at http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/regis/general/applyonline/biosipgr.html (select [(Master of Philosophy (Biosciences) (January Start)] and upload a covering letter, relevant academic qualifications and CV that includes the details of two academic referees to the same online application service. Also, please email to Dr J Cable (Cablej@cardiff.ac.uk) your CV and covering letter.