As of: February 17, 2024, 1:38 p.m
By: Ulrike Osman
Comments
Press
Split
The stone crab feels particularly comfortable on gravelly ground.
© LfU
It's a small sensation: an extremely rare animal species has been discovered in the Moorenweiser municipality - the stone crab.
Measures should now be taken to promote the population.
Moorenweis - On the outside, the stone crab (Austropotamobius torrentium) is quite inconspicuous - around ten centimeters long, light brown to gray-brown, with light-colored claw undersides.
However, the Bavarian State Office for the Environment (LfU) describes it as probably the oldest type of cancer in the fresh waters of Central Europe.
It is listed as critically endangered on the Bavarian Red List.
On the one hand, environmental factors are to blame for this - water pollution and the destruction of habitats through water development.
On the other hand, the animals are threatened by invasive species because they transmit the so-called crayfish plague, an infectious fungal disease.
“It is always fatal and can lead to the extinction of entire populations in a very short space of time,” says Marc Runft.
He is a biodiversity consultant at the Lower Nature Conservation Authority in the Bruck District Office.
Occurrence proves good water quality
The joy is now all the greater that the endangered animal apparently feels comfortable in two bodies of water in Moorenweis.
Significant deposits have been discovered in the Maisach and Steinbach.
“It’s quite a sensation,” says Runft.
Crayfish play an important role as so-called indicator organisms for the ecological quality of water bodies.
Their occurrence demonstrates good to medium water quality with only low organic pollution.
In order to support the stocks, the Lower Nature Conservation Authority has placed stones and coarse gravel in several places in the Maisach.
The native crayfish prefers surfaces such as gravel, stones and roots.
However, he doesn't like muddy soles.
There shouldn't be too many sediments in the water either.
“It doesn’t take much to support the animals,” explains Runft.
Bach should be expanded
The municipality of Moorenweis will reduce water maintenance measures in order to protect the crayfish population.
The Bavarian State Forests, which own forests in the Maisach area, are also taking part.
“We are striving to improve the structure by introducing rhizomes and coarse gravel cushions,” says team leader Korbinian Häuslschmid.
The stream should also be widened in places so that it can meander better.
Caves, coves and overhangs on the banks are important for the crab to find many hiding places.
The planned measures still have to be approved by the Lower Nature Conservation Authority and the Water Management Office.
Häuslschmid hopes to be able to implement it in the spring.
The LfU is also interested in the stone cancer deposits in the western district.
“Monitoring will be carried out to accompany the structuring measures, as this project has a pilot character for Bavaria,” explains Marc Runft.
The surveys are intended to prove that the measures have a positive effect on the stone crab population.
My news
On the road with a postwoman: This is what it's like to work in times of staff shortages
Mecca of electronic music: Starkstrom Festival is taking place again this year
Farewell after 20 years: Director leaves the Rasso-Gymnasiumlesen
According to the statement about the asylum payment card: JU criticizes speakers of the diversity demonstrations
Due to an increase in network fees: Fürstenfeldbruck municipal utilities are raising electricity prices
Obituary: Everyone misses the loyal Praktikerlesen
You can find even more current news from the Fürstenfeldbruck district at Merkur.de/Fürstenfeldbruck.