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Biological water quality assessment in running water sites harbouring the endangered crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes, based on macroinvertebrates and its potential in habitat selection for restocking
Grandjean F, Jouteux R, Ropiquet A, Bachelier E and Bramard M 
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Abstract
The white-clawed crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes, is one of the most demanding crayfish in terms of habitat quality. This species occurs mainly in headwaters where the water is well oxygenated and cold. To preserve this species with fragmented distribution, it is imperative to protect not only the existing populations but also to perform restocking attempts in suitable habitats. Although the habitat of this species is relatively well defined by physical and chemical criteria, less information has been drawn from biological data. Other organisms sharing the same biotope are known to be bioindicators of water quality, such as some insect species. In this study, we used the IBGN (Indice Biologique Global Normal) protocol based on the determination of macroinvertebrates to estimate stream water quality. The IBGN scores ranged from 13 to 19 for brooks harbouring crayfish. The strong diversity of families of Trichoptera and the presence of Plecoptera seems to characterize crayfish habitats and could help in the selection of sites for restocking.
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Grandjean F, Jouteux R, Ropiquet A, Bachelier E and Bramard M. (2002). Biological water quality assessment in running water sites harbouring the endangered crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes, based on macroinvertebrates and its potential in habitat selection for restocking. Freshwater Crayfish 13(1):338-348. doi:
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