VARIATION IN NATIVE CRAYFISH AGONISTIC RESPONSE TO THE INVASION OF THE RUSTY CRAYFISH ORCONECTES RUSTICUS (GIRARD, 1852)

摘要: The consequences of biological invasions warrant continued research on the mechanisms underlying spread exotic species, yet interspecific behavioral interactions are largely overlooked as a contributing factor or consequence introductions species. Our study evaluates how native crayfish Cambarus bartonii (Fabricius, 1798) and Orconectes propinquus (Girard, 1852), respond behaviorally to invasion rusty crayfish, rusticus 1852) in Upper Susquehanna River Basin, NY, USA using experiments semi-natural setting. We found significant effects sex, year, novelty invasion, abiotic environment proportion time species exhibited agonistic behavior toward invading crayfish. females were generally more aggressive than males, particularly year two, but opposite was true for O. males females. Behavioral variation recipient communities is potential mechanism influencing introduced crayfishes although future necessary assess relative extent such influence. driving invasive clearly complex interactive, development effective management plans limited by completeness our understanding, which thus far has been lacking substantial ethological component.