Diet of the invasive crayfish (Decapoda: Cambaridae) in Andean freshwater systems

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15517/tfr5dj41

Keywords:

invasive species, crustacean, trophic plasticity, Andean irrigation systems, stomach contents

Abstract

Introduction: The presence of invasive species causes impacts on ecosystems where they are introduced, as they have adaptations that allow them to tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. Procambarus clarkii, commonly known as the red swamp crayfish, is distributed worldwide and generates negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems, including those of the Colombian Andes. Objective: To characterize the diet of P. clarkii and evaluate its relationship with physicochemical variables in three water bodies of the Upper Chicamocha Irrigation District, Boyacá, Colombia. Methods: Biological material was collected in the Alto Chicamocha Irrigation District (Boyacá, Colombian Andes) during dry, transition, and rainy seasons using specialized folding hexagonal nets. Physicochemical variables were measured at each sampling point. After collecting, the material was taken to the Hydrobiology Laboratory of La Salle University for the analysis of stomach contents and morphometric study of the different life cycle stages. Results: The most frequent stomach contents were Unidentified Organic Matter (MONI) with 40.2 %, Unidentified Animal Material (MANI) with 35.2 %, and Plant Material (MV) with 7.0 %. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that sampling sites differed according to water quality gradients (PC1: 35.9 %) and nutrient profile (PC2: 27.3 %). Simple linear regressions identified relationships between specific food categories and environmental variables: Arthropod Remains (RA) were positively associated with flow (R² = 0.71, p < 0.01), while MV showed associations with conductivity, nitrites, and pH.Conclusion: The diet of P. clarkii demonstrates trophic plasticity, linked to environmental conditions and food availability in Andean lotic and lentic systems. The presence of fish remains and the association of certain food categories with eutrophication indicators in stomach contents underscore its potential to alter ecological dynamics in freshwater systems with anthropogenic impact, reinforcing global evidence of its invasive success.

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Author Biographies

  • María Isabel Castro Rebolledo, Programa de Biología, Escuela de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad de La Salle

    Holds a Ph.D. in Biology and is an Associate Professor at Universidad de La Salle, Bogotá. Her research focuses on the ecology of aquatic macroinvertebrates, leaf litter dynamics in Andean streams, and restoration strategies in Neotropical ecosystems. She has led projects in watersheds of Boyacá, Cundinamarca, and the Orinoquía region, emphasizing the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem processes. She has published in national and international journals and participates in regional networks such as Red Macrolatinos y la Red colombiana de Limnología.

  • Ada Acevedo-Alonso, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Biología. Universidad de Los Andes

    Biologist with an MSc in Biology and a PhD student in Sciences at Universidad de los Andes,  affiliated with the Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Her research focuses on taxonomy, ecology, and conservation of freshwater crustaceans in Neotropical ecosystems. She has participated in biodiversity inventories, extinction risk assessments, and ecological studies of Colombian rivers. She has published in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to national and international collaborations. Ada is also a member of the IUCN SSC Freshwater Crustaceans Specialist Group.

  • Laidy Catherin Ocampo Rojas, Programa de Biología, Escuela de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad de La Salle

    Biologist and Environmental Engineer

  • Danna Valentina Castañeda Varon, Programa de Biología, Escuela de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad de La Salle

    Biologist and Environmental Engineer

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2026-10-28

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Vol. 74 No. 1 (2026): Regular Issue - January - December 2026 - Continuous Publication

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AQUATIC ECOLOGY

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