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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2015

Multiple drivers of decline in the global status of freshwater crayfish (Decapoda: Astacidea)

Richman, Nadia I.; Edsman, Lennart; Collen, Ben

Abstract

Rates of biodiversity loss are higher in freshwater ecosystems than in most terrestrial or marine ecosystems, making freshwater conservation a priority. However, prioritization methods are impeded by insufficient knowledge on the distribution and conservation status of freshwater taxa, particularly invertebrates. We evaluated the extinction risk of the world's 590 freshwater crayfish species using the IUCN Categories and Criteria and found 32% of all species are threatened with extinction. The level of extinction risk differed between families, with proportionally more threatened species in the Parastacidae and Astacidae than in the Cambaridae. Four described species were Extinct and 21% were assessed as Data Deficient. There was geographical variation in the dominant threats affecting the main centres of crayfish diversity. The majority of threatened US and Mexican species face threats associated with urban development, pollution, damming and water management. Conversely, the majority of Australian threatened species are affected by climate change, harvesting, agriculture and invasive species. Only a small proportion of crayfish are found within the boundaries of protected areas, suggesting that alternative means of long-term protection will be required. Our study highlights many of the significant challenges yet to come for freshwater biodiversity unless conservation planning shifts from a reactive to proactive approach.

Keywords

extinction risk; crayfish; IUCN Red List; threatened; freshwater biodiversity

Published in

Philosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences
2015, Volume: 370, number: 1662, article number: 20140060
Publisher: ROYAL SOC

    Associated SLU-program

    Lakes and watercourses
    Biodiversity

    Sustainable Development Goals

    SDG15 Life on land
    SDG14 Life below water

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Ecology

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2014.0060

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/64969