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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The white‐clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) is globally endangered due
to the impacts of habitat modification and fragmentation, water pollution, climate
change, and invasive species, particularly the signal crayfish (Pacifastacus
leniusculus). These pressures have caused the decline of A. pallipes populations
in Europe, demonstrating the importance of predicting the species' potential distribution
under current and future conditions. Focusing on the watercourses of
mainland France, we aimed to identify suitable areas for A. pallipes to guide the
conservation of current populations and future introduction actions or protection
measures.
2. We applied ecological niche modelling to model the potential distribution of both
A. pallipes and P. leniusculus and identified locations suitable for A. pallipes only.
We also assessed the potential distribution of the species under two representative
concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios: RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5, respectively
describing low‐warming and high‐warming conditions.
3. We found that A. pallipes and P. leniusculus exploit equivalent niches in France.
Despite this, under current conditions, about 5% of the study area simultaneously
records a high suitability for A. pallipes and a low suitability for P. leniusculus and is
therefore of significant conservation interest. This percentage remains relatively
stable under RCP 2.6 for 2050 and 2100, but decreases to 2% under RCP 8.5 for
2100.
4. Ecological niche modelling can supply crucial guidance for conservation actions
aimed at protecting endangered species at a national scale by identifying sites
most suitable for protection and sites where climate change and invasive species
constitute a threat.
Description
Keywords
Ecological niche modelling Habitat suitability Climate change Conservation Niche overlap
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Préau, C, Nadeau, I, Sellier, Y., et al. (2020). Niche modelling to guide conservation actions in France for the endangered crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes in relation to the invasive Pacifastacus leniusculus. Freshwater Biology, 65(2), 304-315. https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.13422
Publisher
Wiley