CRAY-INV Project

Project objectives The objective of this project is to decipher the invasion mechanisms of the spiny-cheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus) in the lower Danube basin and the implications this invasion has on the native crayfish species (Astacus leptodactylus and Austropotambius torrentium). These investigations will be performed through an interdisciplinary approach: ecologically (the overlapping degree of trophic niches), genetically (reproductive strategies found at the active invasion front) and pathologically (prevalence of the oomycete Aphanomyces astaci). The scientific community is the most important beneficiary of the implementation of the the project results. We focus on disseminating the information in journals that have high international recognition, but at the same time we wish to inform the public by creating this website dedicated to the project. We also take into consider practical aspects, such as the best ways to conserve wildlife biodiversity. We plan to write at least four scientific papers. Meanwhile, we make efforts towards capitalizing on data from previous investigations. The new data gathered within this project may generate further research subjects as well.
Schedule			Status
Work package 1: Fecundity	2015	preliminary data processing	finished
		manuscript #1 preparation	finished: manuscript accepted
		field data collection	finished
	2016	field data collection	finished
	2016	molecular analyses	finished
	2017	molecular analyses	finished
	2017	manuscript #4 preparation	on-going: manuscript submitted

Work package 2: Ecology of invasion	2016	field data collection	finished
		samples processing	finished
		stable isotopes analyses	finished
	2017	gut content analyses	finished
		benthos analyses	finished
		stable isotopes analyses	finished
		data processing	finished
		manuscript #3 preparation	finished: manuscript accepted

Work package 3: Conservation of indigenous species	2015	field data collection	finished
	2016	field data collection	finished
		molecular analyses	finished
		genotyping	finished
		manuscript #2 preparation	finished: manuscript accepted
Additionally, further goals in the application supported by the existing resources, the project team will follow new research directions in the invasion mechanisms. The existing preliminary data will also be capitalized. Our institution make available 50% of indirect costs to the decision of Project Leader to expand the research.
Assessing the crayfish populations in relation with habitat stability	2015	preliminary data processing	finished
	2015	manuscript #5 preparation	finished: manuscript accepted

Evaluating the competitiveness relation between the native and invasive crayfish species	2016	laboratory experiments	finished
		data processing	finished
		manuscript #6 preparation	finished: manuscript accepted

Phylogeographic re-evaluation of stone crayfish (Austropotamobius torrentium) populations	2016	molecular analyses	finished
	2016	spatial analyses	finished
	2017	data processing	finished
	2017	manuscript #8 preparation	finished: manuscript accepted

Evaluating the chelae biometry in relation with crayfish species biology	2016	laboratory experiments	finished
	2017	laboratory experiments	finished
		data processing	finished
		manuscript #10 preparation	finished: manuscript accepted

Marmorkrebs, a new non-indigenous crayfish species for Romania	2017	field data collection	finished
		molecular analyses	finished
		manuscript #12 preparation	finished: manuscript accepted

Introducing a new Austropotamobius crayfish species	2017	field data collection	finished
		data processing	finished
		manuscript #13 preparation	finished: manuscript accepted

A comparison stable isotopes and gut content analysis	2018
		data processing	finished
		manuscript #14 preparation	finished: manuscript accepted
© Lucian Pârvulescu

Project objectives