 |
The Durrell Trust for Conservation Biology
|
CV
MSc research entitled “'Investigation of Genetic Variation of White Clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) populations across south-east England”. Supervisor: Jim Groombridge
Remnant populations of A. pallipes across the UK are becoming increasingly fragmented, and the impacts of introduced invasive crayfish species, such as the signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), continue to present a considerable threat. As a result, changes in the conservation management approach for the white-clawed crayfish are necessary. It is hoped that by providing information regarding the genetic variation of the remaining populations of A. pallipes, management decisions relating to the protection and proliferation of the species will be more successful. Consequently, the aims for this study are to: 1: Quantify genetic variation within and between A. pallipes populations sampled from Kent, East Sussex and Hampshire, predominantly using RAPD techniques. 2: Provide interpretation of these results for the Environment Agency to inform decision making processes for A. pallipes in the Kent and East Sussex regions. 3: Supplement these results with genetic data derived from microsatellite DNA markers, to compare genetic diversity of the species over a larger geographical area. This project builds upon previous RAPD and microsatellite-based research carried out for A. pallipes across Europe and provides not only a model for the demonstration of how applied genetic research can aid and complement conservation management of threatened species, but also provides a possible avenue to create new microsatellite markers for a native species under significant threat.
Funding: The Environment Agency, KES Area |
White clawed crayfish (A. pallipes) are native to Great Britain and other parts of Europe. Native populations of A. pallipes are becoming increasingly threatened due to habitat loss, water pollution and the effects of competition and disease from other introduced crayfish species. A. pallipes is protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and is classified as “globally threatened” by the IUCN.