Fresh water crab (Pseudothelphusa morelosis)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 212526304

Population ecology and conservation of Pseudothelphusa morelosis, in Santa isabel, Las Estacas State Reserve, Morelos, Mexico

We are aimed to erradicate the introduced red-clawed crayfish and thus diminish the interspecific competition generated by this species on the fresh water crabs. As exotic fishes are also a constant threat to our crab species we are relocating them into the artificial lake and moving them out of the river, ponds and springs. We are also describing and analyzing the population ecology of this crab, something completely unknown until now. 

One of our central objectives is to communicate the importance of this species, and the dangers of species introduction to the visitors and the staff of Santa Isabel. Up to now we have captured, marked and released over 2800 crabs; measured, weighted and erradicated over 15,000 red-clawed crayfish and identified, counted and relocated over 150,000 exotic fish species. 

We are currently looking for extending this financing aid to be able to continue our fieldwork and to capture, mark and recapture (CMR) this crabs and understand their demography, reproductive success and home range.