@article{Bláha_Ložek_Buřič_Kouba_Kozák_2017, title={Native European branchiobdellids on non-native crayfishes: Report from the Czech Republic}, volume={77}, url={https://www.jlimnol.it/jlimnol/article/view/jlimnol.2017.1679}, DOI={10.4081/jlimnol.2017.1679}, abstractNote={<p>Invasive alien species present a global threat to biodiversity, particularly where pathogens and symbionts are involved. Non-native crayfish species can increase their impact on the host ecosystem through introductions of symbiotic fauna. Conversely, non-native crayfishes could serve as hosts for native epibionts, thus substituting for disappearing native crayfishes as well. Here we report the presence of native branchiobdellids on naturalized populations of non-native crayfish <em>Orconectes limosus</em> and <em>Pacifastacus leniusculus </em>living in sympatry with native <em>Astacus astacus</em>. The native crayfish species probably served as a source of <em>Branchiobdella </em>spp. for non-native crayfishes. Two species of <em>Branchiobdella </em>(<em>B. parasita</em> and <em>B. pentadonta</em>) were found on <em>P. leniusculus</em> while only <em>B. parasita </em>was found on <em>O. limosus</em>. The level of colonization of inspected specimens and species was also evaluated. The mean number of branchiobdellids found on <em>P. leniusculus</em> and <em>O. limosus</em> was 26.0±15.9, and 64.8±27.7, respectively. <em>Orconectes limosus </em>was more heavily colonized by <em>Branchiobdella</em> despite being significantly smaller than <em>P. leniusculus</em>. Non-native species were corroborated as suitable to host the native epibionts. </p>}, number={1}, journal={Journal of Limnology}, author={Bláha, Martin and Ložek, Filip and Buřič, Miloš and Kouba, Antonín and Kozák, Pavel}, year={2017}, month={Nov.} }