Freshwater crayfish, keystone species of aquatic ecosystems, are now at the center of a new tool that promises to revolutionize conservation efforts. World of Crayfish™ (WoC), a newly launched web platform, aims to provide real-time global mapping of freshwater crayfish and their pathogens, offering an invaluable resource for researchers, conservationists, and environmental stakeholders.
Published in PeerJ Life and Environment , the article, World of Crayfish™: A web platform towards real-time global mapping of freshwater crayfish and their pathogens , highlights the urgent need for accurate, up-to-date data on crayfish distribution. As one of the largest macroinvertebrates, freshwater crayfish play a crucial role in the ecosystems they inhabit. However, understanding their global distribution has been historically difficult due to a lack of consistent, accessible, and reliable data.
The World of Crayfish™ platform addresses this issue by creating a publicly accessible database that aggregates expert-sourced distributional data on crayfish and their associated pathogens, including Aphanomyces astaci, the agent responsible for crayfish plague. This plague has caused devastating ecological impacts globally. The platform operates in near real-time and is designed to support future technical enhancements.
Key features of the World of Crayfish™ platform include:
The World of Crayfish™ platform envisions a future where experts can collaboratively populate and refine the database, creating a hub for interdisciplinary research at the intersection of biological sciences and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
" World of Crayfish™ is more than just a data repository; it represents a new era in biodiversity conservation," said the development team. "By bringing together experts from various fields and enabling real-time data updates, we hope to facilitate a more effective approach to managing and conserving freshwater ecosystems."
PeerJ
Data/statistical analysis
Animals
World of Crayfish™: a web platform towards real-time global mapping of freshwater crayfish and their pathogens
14-Oct-2024