Mutant Crayfish Clones Itself, and It’s Taking Over Europe

[MechAg94]

I can't read this one, but I like the title.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/05/science/mutant-crayfish-clones-europe.html

A Pet Crayfish Can Clone Itself, and It's Spreading Around the World
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/02/attack-of-the-crayfish-clones/552236/

It was a German aquarium owner who first brought it to scientists’ attention. In 1995, he had acquired a bag of “Texas crayfish” from an American pet trader, only to find his tank inexplicably filling up with the creatures. They were all, it turns out, clones. Sometime, somewhere, the biological rule that making baby crayfish required a mama crayfish and papa crayfish was no longer inviolate. The eggs of the hobbyist’s all-female crayfish did not need to be fertilized. They simply grew into copies of their “mother”—in a process known as parthenogenesis.

Now they are blaming Texas.

Apparently they have spread all over Europe and Africa and may be displacing native species. 

Michigan Invasive Species:  Marbled Crayfish
https://www.michigan.gov/invasives/0,5664,7-324-68002_73847-528996--,00.html?utm_campaign=marbled+crayfish+prohibited&utm_medium=pr&utm_source=govdelivery

I came across this from a link saying Michigan has banned the possession or sale of these Crayfish for fear they will spread into the Great Lakes.  Do any of you know if there are existing Crawfish species in the Great Lakes.  I would assume so, but never been on the water there.  I am sort of curious about this.  My Dad had some local crayfish in his small aquarium once.  He mostly put fish and minnows from the local pond or creek.  It was overrun with snails.  The crayfish ate all the snails.  Then he put in a small perch.  It was smaller than the crayfish, but ended up killing and eating it.  So that makes me wonder what freshwater fish they have in Europe that would eat them.  I have heard they don't have much left in some of their rivers beyond carp due to past pollution. 

If any of you are familiar with mutant crayfish, please share any other good links.

[MillCreek]

What caliber for mutant crayfish?

[Ben]

What caliber for mutant crayfish?

82.

https://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Classic-1182-Stainless-Perforated/dp/B000FTYKGQ?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_2

[WLJ]

What caliber for mutant crayfish?

Godzilla

[MechAg94]

"SOYLENT GREEN!  IT'S MADE OF CRAYFISH!!!"  

....... ......"oh.......okay.  Nevermind."

[makattak]

I can't read this one, but I like the title.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/05/science/mutant-crayfish-clones-europe.html

A Pet Crayfish Can Clone Itself, and It's Spreading Around the World
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/02/attack-of-the-crayfish-clones/552236/
Now they are blaming Texas.

Apparently they have spread all over Europe and Africa and may be displacing native species. 

Michigan Invasive Species:  Marbled Crayfish
https://www.michigan.gov/invasives/0,5664,7-324-68002_73847-528996--,00.html?utm_campaign=marbled+crayfish+prohibited&utm_medium=pr&utm_source=govdelivery

I came across this from a link saying Michigan has banned the possession or sale of these Crayfish for fear they will spread into the Great Lakes.  Do any of you know if there are existing Crawfish species in the Great Lakes.  I would assume so, but never been on the water there.  I am sort of curious about this.  My Dad had some local crayfish in his small aquarium once.  He mostly put fish and minnows from the local pond or creek.  It was overrun with snails.  The crayfish ate all the snails.  Then he put in a small perch.  It was smaller than the crayfish, but ended up killing and eating it.  So that makes me wonder what freshwater fish they have in Europe that would eat them.  I have heard they don't have much left in some of their rivers beyond carp due to past pollution. 

If any of you are familiar with mutant crayfish, please share any other good links.

How is this a problem? Just import some creoles and have them teach the french to cook them.

There, I just solved the "experts" warned food crisis.

[MechAg94]

Godzilla

Giant Crayfish take over the Great Lakes and attack Detroit.    ..... ....

[230RN]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis

kwoat
...is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization by sperm.  In animals, parthenogenesis means development of an embryo from an unfertilized egg cell.

...

Parthenogenesis occurs naturally in some plants, some invertebrate animal species (including nematodes, water fleas, some scorpions, aphids, some mites, some bees, some Phasmatodea and parasitic wasps) and a few vertebrates (such as some fish,[4] amphibians, reptiles[5][6] and very rarely birds[7]). This type of reproduction has been induced artificially in a few species including fish and amphibians.[8]
unkwoat

Apparently, the real story is with respect to it being an invasive species.

Terry

[MechAg94]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis

...is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization by sperm.In animals, parthenogenesis means development of an embryo from an unfertilized egg cell.

...

Parthenogenesis occurs naturally in some plants, some invertebrate animal species (including nematodes, water fleas, some scorpions, aphids, some mites, some bees, some Phasmatodea and parasitic wasps) and a few vertebrates (such as some fish,[4] amphibians, reptiles[5][6] and very rarely birds[7]). This type of reproduction has been induced artificially in a few species including fish and amphibians.[8]

It came from a lab in Wuhan, China.  


I can see how they could breed out of control and displace other crayfish species, but I wonder what predators in those Lakes would eat them (non-human).  

[WLJ]

Giant Crayfish take over the Great Lakes and attack Detroit.    ..... ....

And leave it in better condition than they found it in

[230RN]

MechAg94 remarked,

I can see how they could breed out of control and displace other crayfish species, but I wonder what predators in those Lakes would eat them (non-human).

That's the usual danger with invasive species --no or few --or differently adapted --predators.

Take the human species, for example.   The only "predators" limiting its population growth except for places like India, are wars and germs.  

May your house be safe from tigers.

Terry

[makattak]

MechAg94 remarked,

That's the usual danger with invasive species --no or few --or differently adapted --predators.

Terry

Which is why we just need to import their predators. Problem solved!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9yruQM1ggc

[MechAg94]

MechAg94 remarked,

That's the usual danger with invasive species --no or few --or differently adapted --predators.

Take the human species, for example.   The only "predators" limiting its population growth except for places like India, are wars and germs.  

May your house be safe from tigers.

Terry

And even if local predators keep them somewhat in check, it is increasing the food supply of those predators and possibly distorting the current balance in other ways. 

However, that sort of thing seems to be common in a lot of places. 

[RoadKingLarry]

Giant Crayfish take over the Great Lakes and attack Detroit.    ..... ....

I'm not seeing a downside.

[RocketMan]

Giant Crayfish take over the Great Lakes and attack Detroit.    ..... ....

Not sure I see a problem there.

[Big Hairy Bee]

They are a big problem here in AZ

https://youtu.be/WsnK5k47frs

[MechAg94]

They are a big problem here in AZ

https://youtu.be/WsnK5k47frs

I guess introducing invasive species was a common fad for state wildlife officials back in the day.  Lake Conroe North of Houston has a lot of invasive carp.  I heard they were introduced to control some of the vegetation.  The fish introduced were supposed to be sterile, but the sterilization wasn't 100% effective.  Not long ago the officials for the lake were asking local bowfishermen to do tournaments there to help control the population.  

[zxcvbob]

I guess introducing invasive species was a common fad for state wildlife officials back in the day.  Lake Conroe North of Houston has a lot of invasive carp.  I heard they were introduced to control some of the vegetation.  The fish introduced were supposed to be sterile, but the sterilization wasn't 100% effective.  Not long ago the officials for the lake were asking local bowfishermen to do tournaments there to help control the population.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9yruQM1ggc

[Jim147]

This thread is making me hungry.

[WLJ]

This thread is making me hungry.

How do you like yours cooked?

[MechAg94]

This thread is making me hungry.

Apparently, you can get an aquarium and one crayfish and soon you will have enough to cook.

[Ben]

Apparently, you can get an aquarium and one crayfish and soon you will have enough to cook.

Good thing to make note of regarding food supplies for the zombie apocalypse. :)

[RocketMan]

Oh, oh.  It's CRAYVID-19!  Run for your lives!

[Jim147]

if that is melted butter shooting out of his mouth i'm good.

[230RN]

And even if local predators keep them somewhat in check, it is increasing the food supply of those predators and possibly distorting the current balance in other ways. 

However, that sort of thing seems to be common in a lot of places. 

That's kind of my outlook on a lot of green-eco things.  It's like a kid's party balloon.  You push in here, it comes out there.  People don't ask what the total energy budget looks like.