D.5 – Monitoring of decapod Austropotamobius pallipes and invasive decapods
The monitoring of White-clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) populations will take place according to the protocol drafted in the framework of the action A4. The method used for the monitoring of its populations is the same that has been used since 1992 in the Garrotxa, which was adopted in 2011 as a standard method for Catalonia. This will take place to monitor known populations of Crayfish in the project areas, in areas where reinforcement is expected, and also in areas where there are populations of invasive decapods threatening local Crayfish populations. There will be a first initial exploration project in the first year and then they will be repeated annually until completed. Two different methods depending on the purpose of monitoring will be done, as standardized application: a) the search for new populations of Austropotamobius pallipes, prospecting areas where it is intended to repopulate and to determine the presence or the status of the populations of invasive decapods; b) the monitoring of known populations of Austropotamobius pallipes.
It is very important at all sampling to use disinfected material to prevent the transmission of Crayfish plague among populations of native and invasive species. To carry out the monitoring is required at least two people with flashlights and rubber boots to walk along the stream and a card to record field data. In some cases it may be necessary to use bait for catching individuals and make more adjusted estimations, especially with the invasive Crayfishes.
However, in this project there are some peculiarities concerning actions related with Austropotamobius pallipes that require the establishment of a monitoring of the species in more specific level as the establishment of a program surveillance and protection of the populations of Austropotamobius pallipes against Crayfish plague. A monitoring mechanism such as recurrence stations, etc., depending on the threat level previously diagnosed for each population, will be described. There will be a previous field survey for the problematic areas.
