The marbled crayfish (Procambarus virginalis) is a monoclonal, parthenogenetically reproducing freshwater crayfish species that has formed multiple stable populations worldwide. Madagascar hosts a particularly large and rapidly expanding colony of marbled crayfish in a unique environment characterized by a very high degree of ecological diversity. Here we provide a detailed characterization of five marbled crayfish populations in Madagascar and their habitats. Our data show that the animals can tolerate a wide range of ecological parameters, consistent with their invasive potential. While we detected marbled crayfish in sympatry with endemic crayfish species, we found no evidence for the transmission of the crayfish plague pathogen, a potentially devastating oomycete. Furthermore, our results also suggest that marbled crayfish are active predators of the freshwater snails that function as intermediate hosts for human schistosomiasis. Finally, we document fishing, farming and market sales of marbled crayfish in Madagascar. Our results provide a paradigm for the complex network of factors that promotes the invasive spread of marbled crayfish. The commercial value of the animals is likely to result in further anthropogenic distribution.

中文翻译：

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马达加斯加的侵入性小龙虾种群的生态可塑性和商业影响

大理石纹小龙虾（Procambarus virginalis）是一种单性孤雌生殖繁殖的淡水小龙虾，已在全球范围内形成多个稳定种群。马达加斯加在一个以高度生态多样性为特征的独特环境中，拥有一个特别庞大且迅速扩张的小龙虾群落。在这里，我们提供了马达加斯加及其栖息地中五个大理石化小龙虾种群的详细特征。我们的数据表明，这些动物可以忍受与其入侵潜能一致的各种生态参数。虽然我们在与地方性小龙虾共生的物种中检出了大理石纹小龙虾，但我们没有发现小龙虾鼠疫病原体（可能具有破坏性的卵菌）传播的证据。此外，我们的研究结果还表明，大理石花纹的小龙虾是淡水蜗牛的活跃捕食者，它们是人类血吸虫病的中间宿主。最后，我们记录了马达加斯加的小龙虾的捕捞，养殖和市场销售情况。我们的研究结果为复杂的因素网络提供了范例，该因素网络促进了有大理石花纹的小龙虾的侵入性传播。动物的商业价值很可能导致进一步的人为分布。