Reintroduction of critically endangered jackdaw crayfish
Published: Tuesday, Nov 19th 2024, 11:10
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Two researchers from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) in Muttenz BL have successfully reared critically endangered dace crayfish and reintroduced them on Tuesday. Crayfish are considered key species and are an important part of biodiversity.
The young crabs serve as food for fish and other aquatic organisms, the researchers told the Keystone-SDA news agency. Immediately after hatching, the crayfish are only just under one centimeter in size. Protected breeding bridges this sensitive life phase.
For the reintroduction project, egg-bearing females were taken from the Lüssel, a tributary of the Birs, in north-western Switzerland in spring and brought to the FHNW rearing facility. Once the young had hatched, the mothers were returned to the Lüssel. The protected rearing took place in a facility with specially treated water and controlled feeding.
The researchers' aim was to set up a breeding station for Dohlenkrebs in the Birs catchment area. The Lüssel is home to a large population of Dohlenkrebs and is therefore well suited to the project. Two years ago, an unknown event led to many dead crayfish, according to the researchers. The reintroduction could strengthen the strong population. Despite its proximity to settlements, many sections of the Lüssel have a good structure for crayfish.
Jackdaw crayfish are one of four crayfish species native to Switzerland. They are highly endangered due to habitat destruction, water pollution and invasive crayfish from America. The latter were deliberately brought to Europe in the 1970s for culinary reasons. They are more competitive, have more young and transmit crayfish plague, which is fatal to Swiss crayfish.
©Keystone/SDA
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