Asexual Reproduction Among Crayfish Found

by Sherry Morse

Female members of a crayfish species called Marmorkrebs recently were found to be capable of reproducing without mating by German researchers working at the Humboldt University of Berlin.

Female members of a number of other crustacean species were known to be capable of asexual reproduction, which also is called parthenogenesis, but no crayfish, crabs or lobsters had previously been discovered to have the ability.

The finding has caused some marine biologists to become concerned that members of the Marmorkrebs species, which have become very popular among German owners of aquaria in recent years, could displace indigenous crustaceans if released into the wild.

During the 19th century, import of members of the North American crayfish species Procambarus fallax led to the decimation of a large number of European crustacean populations.

"The public should be alerted," Dr. Gerhard Scholtz, one of the researchers who made the discovery, told a Nature reporter.

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.