I
Ian Cloke
Guest
THE University of Derby is set to become an international information resource for all anyone could ever wish to know about crayfish and the fight to preserve the existence of our native species (the white-clawed crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes) against alien invaders.
A global expert on crayfish, Professor David Rogers, has presented the University?s School of Science with a comprehensive record of notes, documents, and studies of the most recent crayfish research, all edited in one document entitled IAA 15, putting Derby on the map as a vital information resource for ecologists in this field of study.
Professor Rogers said: ?Success in conserving the white-clawed crayfish is critical to maintenance of biodiversity in the rivers and lakes of the UK.
?Crayfish are amongst the largest and longest-lived freshwater invertebrates and they play a key role in maintaining biodiversity of rivers and lakes, but our native crayfish itself is critically threatened by the spread of American Signal Crayfish and a crayfish plague and prevention of extinction of this species is a major challenge to biologists like us at the University of Derby.?
Professor Rogers? work, including the editing of ?IAA 15?, is part of the wider effort to meet the challenge. ?IAA 15? is the Proceedings from the 15th Symposium of the International Association of Astacology (the study of crayfish) and will take pride of place in the University?s Learning Centre to be a valuable research aid for academics and student researchers alike.
Professor Rogers compiled an impressive and comprehensive CD-Rom after he and colleague Elizabeth Watson (a former University of Derby MSc student) organised the 15th Symposium of the International Association of Astacology at The Zoological Society and The Linnean Society in London in 2004.
One hundred and twenty seven delegates from 25 countries including the USA, Australia, Madagascar and much of Europe attended the conference where 56 oral presentations were made and over 40 posters displayed.
The Environment Agency, English Nature (now Natural England) and British Waterways were among the organisations that backed the event along with the University of Derby.
A myriad of different subject areas were explored in the conference by experts from across the globe including phylogeny, systematics, ontogeny, physiology, behaviour and ecology.
The CD-Rom is now available at Derby and Dr Mike Greenwood, Head of the School of Science, said: ?We are fortunate indeed to have such expertise contributing to research and teaching within Biological Sciences at Derby, particularly considering the wealth of material that Professor Rogers has presented to us."
Collaborative work by Professor Rogers and Elizabeth Watson on rearing of crayfish for reintroduction is included in the CD-Rom. This is an ongoing project to reintroduce the native crayfish to Derbyshire?s River Lathkill, which is to be the subject of a television documentary next year.
A global expert on crayfish, Professor David Rogers, has presented the University?s School of Science with a comprehensive record of notes, documents, and studies of the most recent crayfish research, all edited in one document entitled IAA 15, putting Derby on the map as a vital information resource for ecologists in this field of study.
Professor Rogers said: ?Success in conserving the white-clawed crayfish is critical to maintenance of biodiversity in the rivers and lakes of the UK.
?Crayfish are amongst the largest and longest-lived freshwater invertebrates and they play a key role in maintaining biodiversity of rivers and lakes, but our native crayfish itself is critically threatened by the spread of American Signal Crayfish and a crayfish plague and prevention of extinction of this species is a major challenge to biologists like us at the University of Derby.?
Professor Rogers? work, including the editing of ?IAA 15?, is part of the wider effort to meet the challenge. ?IAA 15? is the Proceedings from the 15th Symposium of the International Association of Astacology (the study of crayfish) and will take pride of place in the University?s Learning Centre to be a valuable research aid for academics and student researchers alike.
Professor Rogers compiled an impressive and comprehensive CD-Rom after he and colleague Elizabeth Watson (a former University of Derby MSc student) organised the 15th Symposium of the International Association of Astacology at The Zoological Society and The Linnean Society in London in 2004.
One hundred and twenty seven delegates from 25 countries including the USA, Australia, Madagascar and much of Europe attended the conference where 56 oral presentations were made and over 40 posters displayed.
The Environment Agency, English Nature (now Natural England) and British Waterways were among the organisations that backed the event along with the University of Derby.
A myriad of different subject areas were explored in the conference by experts from across the globe including phylogeny, systematics, ontogeny, physiology, behaviour and ecology.
The CD-Rom is now available at Derby and Dr Mike Greenwood, Head of the School of Science, said: ?We are fortunate indeed to have such expertise contributing to research and teaching within Biological Sciences at Derby, particularly considering the wealth of material that Professor Rogers has presented to us."
Collaborative work by Professor Rogers and Elizabeth Watson on rearing of crayfish for reintroduction is included in the CD-Rom. This is an ongoing project to reintroduce the native crayfish to Derbyshire?s River Lathkill, which is to be the subject of a television documentary next year.