Announcing the Edelcrab Tour: Discover the Noble Crayfish in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve
Join the Rhönklub Hünfeld for a "Grand Cancer Tour" featuring Ranger Joachim Walter on July 27, 25th
On July 27, 2025, the Rhoen Club Branch Association Huenfeld is hosting an exciting event for nature enthusiasts – the Edelcrab Tour. This unique tour, focused on the noble crayfish, will be led by Joachim Walter, Ranger in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve.
The noble crayfish (Astacus astacus), a specific type of crayfish, is a fascinating creature found in the clean, well-oxygenated streams, ponds, and small lakes of the Rhön Biosphere Reserve. This tour offers a rare opportunity to learn more about this elusive creature and its habitat.
What to Expect
The Edelcrab Tour aims to answer questions about the noble crayfish, such as its location, characteristics, and living needs. Participants will gain insights into its appearance, diet, behavior, and survival requirements. The tour will provide a comprehensive understanding of this remarkable creature and its role in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve ecosystem.
Meeting Point and Registration
The meeting point for the Edelcrab Tour on July 27, 2025, is the Dicken Eiche between Nüst and Dammersbach. To secure your spot, please contact Joachim Walter at 06652 73870.
Guests are welcome to attend the Edelcrab Tour on July 27, 2025. So, if you're curious about the noble crayfish and eager to explore the Rhön Biosphere Reserve, mark your calendars for this unforgettable event!
About the Noble Crayfish
The noble crayfish is a freshwater crustacean with a robust, dark brown to greenish exoskeleton. It typically measures between 10 and 16 cm in length. It has large, strong claws with small, dark blue spots against a lighter background, a distinctive feature compared to other crayfish species.
Primarily nocturnal, they hide under stones or inside burrows during the day. They are opportunistic omnivores, feeding on detritus, aquatic plants, invertebrates, and carrion.
Noble crayfish require clean, unpolluted water with high oxygen content. They are sensitive to pollution, siltation, and eutrophication, which can degrade their habitat. They prefer cool water, generally below 20°C. Water temperature extremes can be detrimental especially in shallow water bodies.
Availability of hiding spots like submerged stones, crevices, and woody debris is crucial for avoiding predators and molting safely. A diverse diet supports growth and reproduction; thus, a rich benthic invertebrate community and detritus supply are necessary.
Clean gravel or stones are needed as spawning substrates. Stable water conditions during breeding season (late summer to autumn) improve juvenile survival.
Conservation Efforts
Conservation efforts in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve focus on habitat protection, water quality monitoring, and preventing the spread of non-native crayfish species. The noble crayfish populations in the Rhön and other parts of Central Europe have declined due to habitat degradation and the introduction of invasive crayfish species (such as the Signal crayfish) carrying the crayfish plague.
Join us on July 27, 2025, for this enlightening tour and contribute to the conservation of the noble crayfish in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve.
- The Edelcrab Tour on July 27, 2025, offers a valuable opportunity to learn about the noble crayfish (Astacus astacus), a specific type of crayfish, and its role in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve, including its medical-conditions like sensitivity to pollution, siltation, and eutrophication.
- Amidst the discussions on the Edelcrab Tour, the role of science in understanding the health-and-wellness of the noble crayfish, particularly its need for clean, unpolluted water, diverse diet, and adequate habitat, will be highlighted as a fundamental aspect of its conservation in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve.
