Biological Sciences

Dr M. G. Bentley at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne have a PhD project funded by the Environment Agency and English Nature investigating the role of pheromones and other chemical signals in the reproduction and behaviour of the freshwater signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus.

In the UK and Europe, the introduction of this species has been responsible for the devastation of the protected native white-clawed crayfish and major negative impacts on biodiversity. Of the options currently available to control the spread of this species only trapping and the application of biocides are feasible, but the use of biocides has significant impacts on non-target species. In areas of high density crayfish are easily caught with food-baited traps, however, at low densities they rapidly become inefficient and trap success is quickly reduced to zero.

This project is using the isolation of sex pheromones from signal crayfish and other chemicals involved in other behaviours to assess the feasibility of using traps baited with these chemicals to enhance the trapping success of Pacifastacus leniusculus. Pheromones have been used successfully in a number of terrestrial pest control cases, but have only had limited trials in controlling aquatic pests. Preliminary experiments examining the efficacy of pheromone-baited traps have proved promising and work is continuing to develop the methodology further. Dr Watson, in collaboration with Dr M. G. Bentley at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne have a PhD project funded by the Environment Agency and English Nature investigating the role of pheromones and other chemical signals in the reproduction and behaviour of the freshwater signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus.