Gammarus pulex
Gamarus pulex
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Photo credit: Aquaportail - https://www.aquaportail.com/dictionnaire/definition/9558/gammare-des-ruisseaux
Gammarus pulex
Habitat:
Description:
Origin and Distribution:
Impacts:
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
How did it get here?
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Prevent Spread
Current Legislation Position (Northern Ireland only):
Gammarus pulex
Habitat:
- Freshwater rivers, lakes and canals
Description:
- Males up to 21mm with females 14mm long
- Greyish with dark brown or green markings
Origin and Distribution:
- Native to Europe
- Introduced to Northern Ireland in the 1950s
Impacts:
- Outcompetes native species displacing them and reducing biodiversity
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
- It is found in Northern Ireland. Distribution map can be found on NBN Atlas Northern Ireland
How did it get here?
- Ballast water from larger ships then recreational boats allowed the introduction and spread of this species
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Prevent Spread
- Before moving boats or equipment between waterbodies make sure they are clean and checked for invasive species
- Don’t put pondwater or plants into waterbodies without checking for invasive species
- Do not move invasive species between waterbodies or release species into them
- Report all sightings
- Great care must be taken to ensure individuals kept in confinement do not escape
Current Legislation Position (Northern Ireland only):
- Gammarus pulex is listed in Schedule 9 of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 and as such, under Article 15 it is an offence to release or allow this species to escape into the wild.