Combined effect of temperature and nitrate on the antioxidant response and the behaviour of invasive red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

Student: 
Pelayo Menendez

Biological invasions pose a significant threat to the conservation of biodiversity, but our mechanistic understanding of the determinants of invasion success is still scant. Here we used a global invasive crayfish species, the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), to test how variations in temperature and nutrient pollution will affect its invasive success. Crayfish individuals were exposed individually to two temperature and nutrient levels within the values reported in its current distributional range, and we used changes in their foraging behaviour and enzymes of oxidative stress as indicators of crayfish health. If the environmental conditions tested will promote the crayfish invasion success, we expect an increase in its foraging efficacy and a neutral effect on the concentration of enzymes of oxidative stress. Last, if the experimental conditions are not harmful for the crayfish, we expect that alterations in enzymes of oxidative stress if occur will not affect their foraging efficacy.