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Assessing the potential risk of crayfish introductions in South Africa

Dissertation (MSc (Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2021.

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Other Authors: Zengeya, Tsungai A.
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2022
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Zengeya, Tsungai A.
author_browse Zengeya, Tsungai A.
author_facet Zengeya, Tsungai A.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MSc (Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2021.
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
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license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2022
publishDateRange 2022
publishDateSort 2022
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/83304 Assessing the potential risk of crayfish introductions in South Africa Zengeya, Tsungai A. u18389164@tuks.co.za Chimimba, Christian Timothy Botha, Lee-Anne UCTD Alien freshwater crayfish in South Africa Managing alien freshwater crayfish Using standardised methods to assess the potential impacts of alien species Dissertation (MSc (Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2021. Alien freshwater crayfish have been translocated into regions outside their native range causing negative impacts on biodiversity and human well-being. These negative impacts have necessitated the need to control and manage their movement and utilization, partly through risk analysis protocols. Consequently, this study used recently developed protocols to assess potential current and future impacts of introduced crayfish in South Africa. These included the Environmental Impact Classification Scheme for Alien Taxa (EICAT) and the Socio-economic Impact Classification Scheme for Alien Taxa (SEICAT) for assessing environmental and socio-economic impacts and the Risk Analysis Framework for Alien Taxa (RAAT). Fourteen freshwater crayfish species with an invasion history were evaluated for potential impacts and invasion risk in South Africa. The EICAT and SEICAT assessments indicated that only three species (21%): red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), rusty crayfish (Faxonius rusticus), and signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) had documented environmental impacts in their alien range. The remaining 11 species (79%) had no documented evidence of impacts and were classified as Data Deficient (DD), such that a closely related species with similar traits (e.g., feeding behaviour) and documented evidence of impact was used to infer their potential impacts. Most environmental impacts were associated with competition, predation, the transmission of diseases, and structural changes to ecosystems. Their magnitude varied from minor to massive. SEICAT assessments were also affected by a general lack of socio-economic data in the alien range, and most socio-economic impacts were associated with transmission of diseases, disruption in recreational activities, and the compromisation of employment opportunities, with the magnitude varying from minor to moderate. The RAAT framework was then used to assess the potential risk of the 14 alien freshwater crayfish species that have been introduced outside their native range. Of these, species (86%) pose a high-risk of invasion into South Africa, of which four species, marron (Cherax cainii and C. tenuimanus), P. clarkii, and redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) are already present in the country, but they have different introduction status. Cherax cainii and C. tenuimanus are present but not established, P. clarkii is established but not invasive, while C. quadricarinatus is invasive. Based on their introduction status and ecological traits, the ease of management for each of these species was scored as medium. Permit records indicate that C. cainii and C. tenuimanus are likely confined to aquaculture facilities. The current known distribution of P. clarkii in the wild is localised to two localities within Mpumalanga and Free State Provinces. Therefore, eradication is highly feasible. Cherax quadricarinatus is already widespread in the Inkomati River and adjacent river systems in Mpumalanga Province and is still spreading, and the most appropriate control is to minimise its further spread. Recommendations from the risk analyses of 5 species do not agree with the current listing under the South African Alien and Invasive Species (A&IS) Regulations because of no occurrence data in the country. Management plans should aim at identifying and preventing the introduction of potentially harmful invasive crayfish species, and maximise the potential benefits of less harmful species. Key words: Alien freshwater crayfish, invasions, Alien and Invasive Species (A&IS) Regulations, impact assessments, management, EICAT, SEICAT, RAAT, South Africa. South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology (CIB) Zoology and Entomology MSc (Zoology) Unrestricted 2022-01-13T06:56:57Z 2022-01-13T06:56:57Z 2022-04 2021-11 Dissertation Botha, L 2021, Assessing the potential risk of crayfish introductions in South Africa, MSc thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria A2022 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/83304 en © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Alien freshwater crayfish in South Africa
Managing alien freshwater crayfish
Using standardised methods to assess the potential impacts of alien species
Assessing the potential risk of crayfish introductions in South Africa
title Assessing the potential risk of crayfish introductions in South Africa
title_full Assessing the potential risk of crayfish introductions in South Africa
title_fullStr Assessing the potential risk of crayfish introductions in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the potential risk of crayfish introductions in South Africa
title_short Assessing the potential risk of crayfish introductions in South Africa
title_sort assessing the potential risk of crayfish introductions in south africa
topic UCTD
Alien freshwater crayfish in South Africa
Managing alien freshwater crayfish
Using standardised methods to assess the potential impacts of alien species
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/83304