Wyre Forest Study Group – Crayfish articles 

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White-Clawed Crayfish in the Wyre 2022 – Graham Hill

Members of the WFSG have monitored the presence of native White-clawed Crayfish in Wyre since 2010. This article is an update following the 2022 survey, which used Environmental DNA, and showed they are still present, but only in one small stream.

(From Wyre Forest Study Group REVIEW 2022) 

2019 Update on the White-Clawed Crayfish Population within the Wyre Forest – Graham Hill

Here Graham Hill provides an update on the detailed studies and monitoring of White-clawed Crayfish that have taken place annually since 2010. After a disastrous year in 2016 when Crayfish Plague spread from Dowles Brook into further tributaries, this article provides current population data together with some very interesting conclusions around the possible mechanisms involved in the spread of Crayfish Plague.

(From Wyre Forest Study Group REVIEW 2019) 

2018 Update on the White-Clawed Crayfish Population within the Wyre Forest – Graham Hill & Christopher Troth

Annual monitoring of native White-clawed Crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes in streams of the Wyre Forest commenced in 2010. The ninth survey was undertaken during 2018 when a reduced number of streams that have held populations of White-clawed Crayfish were resurveyed. Graham & Christopher provide details of the latest finding of this important study.

(From Wyre Forest Study Group REVIEW 2018) 

Environmental DNA (eDNA) Detection of White-Clawed Crayfish, Signal Crayfish and the Crayfish Plague Within the Wyre Forest (2017) – Christopher Troth

The term eDNA is simply defined as a source of DNA which can be found within environmental samples such as water, soil, or air. Here Christopher Troth explains how this technique has been used in the ongoing studies of Crayfish populations in the Wyre Forest. 

(From Wyre Forest Study Group REVIEW 2017) 

2017 Update on the White-Clawed Crayfish Population within the Wyre Forest – Graham Hill

Annual monitoring of native White-clawed Crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes in streams of the Wyre Forest commenced in 2010. The eighth survey was undertaken during 2017 when all streams that have held populations of White-clawed Crayfish were resurveyed. Graham Hill provides details of the latest finding of this important study.

(From Wyre Forest Study Group REVIEW 2017) 

Bell Brook Crayfish Survey with Panpipe Refugia – Graham Hill

This article describes the use of artificial crayfish refugia (‘panpies‘) to examine the distribution of White-calwed crayfish in one Wyre stream. Crayfish Plague was detected in this stream, the migration of the effects of plague in the crayfish population is discussed.  

(From Wyre Forest Study Group REVIEW 2016) 

2016 Update on the White-clawed Crayfish Population within the Wyre Forest – Ann and Graham Hill

This article describes the seventh annual crayfish survey in Wyre streams and documents the continuing decline of our native crayfish population.

(From Wyre Forest Study Group REVIEW 2016)

Detecting the Presence of White-clawed Crayfish and Signal Crayfish using Non-invasive Environmental DNA – Christopher Troth
This article describes a study in four Wyre Forest streams where DNA obtained from the streamwater was used to identify the presence of White-clawed and Signal crayfish.

(From the Wyre Forest Study Group REVIEW 2015) the Wyre Forest Study Group’s REVI 20

2015 Update on the White-clawed Crayfish Population within the Wyre Forest – Ann and Graham Hill

Details of the 2015 Wyre Forest crayfish survey are presented and discussed in relation to the ongoing annual surveys of the same watercourses.

(From the Wyre Forest Study Group REVIEW 2015)

(From e Wyre Forest Study Group’s RIEW 2014)

Water Quality of four Wyre Forest Streams containing White-clawed Crayfish – Graham Hill

Physiochemical water quality in four Wyre streams was assessed during this 2015 survey, the finding are presented and discussed in relation to White-clawed crayfish populations.

(From the Wyre Forest Study Group REVIEW 2015)

2014 Update on the White-clawed Crayfish within the Wyre Forest – Ann and Graham Hill

The annual monitoring of parts of Wyre Forest’s water courses for crayfish in 2014 is described. The results from the 2014 survey are presented and compared with data from previous years. 

(From the Wyre Forest Study Group REVIEW 2014)

2013 Update on the White-clawed Crayfish within the Wyre Forest – Ann and Graham Hill

Annual monitoring of crayfish in streams within Wyre has been undertaken since 2010, and this article provides information about the 2013 survey and distribution of our native crayfish in the streams studied.

(From the Wyre Forest Study Group REVIEW 2013)

2012 update on the White-clawed Crayfish populations within Wyre Forest – Ann and Graham Hill

The annual monitoring of parts of Wyre Forest’s water courses for White-clawed Crayfish is described. This article provides results from the 2012 survey and compares the finding  with data from previous years. 

(From the Wyre Forest Study Group REVIEW 2012)

Crayfish of Wyre Forest, an update – Ann and Graham Hill

A catchmentwide crayfish survey of Dowles Brook was completed in 2011, this article documents the methods used and the results. Information about historical crayfish monitoring in Wyre and comparison with present day status and distribution is provided.

(From the Wyre Forest Study Group REVIEW 2011)

Atlantic Stream (White-clawed) Crayfish – (Austropotamobius pallipes) – in the Wyre Forest

A crayfish survey of parts of the Dowles Brook catchment was undertaken in 2010. This report details the current status nationaly and the habitat requirements of the species, the methods used in the survey along with the results.

(From the Wyre Forest Study Group’s REVIEW 2010)

The White-clawed Crayfish 

Ann Hill

Adult White-clawed Crayfish

Rosemary Winnall

Juvenile White-clawed Crayfish

Rosemary Winnall