Principles of using River Habitat Survey to predict the distribution of aquatic species: an example applied to the native white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes

AQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS Aquatic Conser6: Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst. 8: 515–527 (1998) Principles of using Ri7er Habitat Sur7ey to predict the distribution of aquatic species: an example applied to the nati7e white-clawed... More

AQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
Aquatic Conser6: Mar.
Freshw.
Ecosyst.
8: 515–527 (1998)
Principles of using Ri7er Habitat Sur7ey to predict the
distribution of aquatic species: an example applied to the
nati7e white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes
MARC NAURAa,
* and MAGGIE ROBINSONb
a
The En6ironment Agency, Richard Fairclough House, Knutsford Road, Warrington WA4 1HG, UK
b
English Nature, Juniper House, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal OA9 7RL, UK
ABSTRACT
1.
The Environment Agency has compiled a comprehensive database of the physical structure of
British rivers using the River Habitat Survey (RHS) methodology.

2.
A series of models was developed to ascertain whether RHS could be used to predict the
environmental requirements of riverine species.
Austropotamobius pallipes (Lereboullet) was chosen
for the model, as it is an endangered species throughout Europe.
In Britain, many populations have
been eradicated or sev Less