Alien macrocrustaceans in freshwater ecosystems in the eastern part of Flanders (Belgium)

Marjolein Messiaen; Koen Lock; Wim Gabriëls; Thierry Vercauteren; Karel Wouters; Pieter Boets; Peter L.M. Goethals

doi:10.26496/bjz.2010.187

Authors

Marjolein Messiaen Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, J. Plateaustraat 22, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
Koen Lock Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, J. Plateaustraat 22, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
Wim Gabriëls Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, J. Plateaustraat 22, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium AND Flemish Environment Agency, A. Van de Maelestraat 96, 9320 Erembodegem, Belgium
Thierry Vercauteren Provinciaal Instituut voor Hygiëne, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Karel Wouters Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Pieter Boets Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, J. Plateaustraat 22, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
Peter L.M. Goethals Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, J. Plateaustraat 22, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26496/bjz.2010.187

Keywords:

Chelicorophium curvispinum, Dikerogammarus villosus, exotic species, Gammarus tigrinus, macroinvertebrates

Abstract

Biological invasions of freshwater macroinvertebrates are gaining more and more interest because the ecological and economical impact of some of these species is high. Since crustacean taxa appear to be successful groups invading new areas, an inventory of the macrocrustaceans in Flanders was made. At least 22 freshwater macrocrustacean species have been reported from Flemish water bodies. A detailed study of six canals, one small artificial watercourse and one natural river in the eastern part of Flanders revealed that invaders such as Dikerogammarus villosus, Gammarus tigrinus and Chelicorophium curvispinum are already quite common. Especially D. villosus is currently rapidly expanding and has a serious impact on native and other exotic gammarid species. Based on observations in neighbouring countries, several additional species are expected to arrive in the near future. A follow-up of the alien species together with a monitoring scheme to detect new incoming species is valuable to estimate the size of the problem and to be able to closely follow their ecological and economical impact.

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