Osservazioni sulle abitudini alimentari del gambero di fiume nostrano, Austropotamobius pallipes italicus (Faxon).

It is very important to know the autoecology of white-clawed freshwater crayfish for managing and conserving its natural populations. For this reason we studied the diet habit of white-clawed freshwater crayfish in Central Italy. We drew freshwater crayfishes from two rivers in the province of Rome, in July ‘01, September ’01, March ’02 and April ‘02. Freshwater crayfishes were sexed and measured. Then every stomach and its contents were removed. We observed: 1) stomach repletion; 2) relative importance of different components; 3) frequency of appearance. Within the stomach we observed rather more vegetal material than animal material and detritus. We empathize white-clawed freshwater crayfish to have a mainly vegetarian diet. On the whole, A. pallipes italicus has an important position in the ecosystem both as a scavenger and as a grazer.