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Full Citation: Camp MA, Skelton CE and Zehnder C (2011). Population dynamics and life history characteristics of the ambiguous crayfish (Cambarus striatus). Freshwater Crayfish 18(1): 75-81.

Population dynamics and life history characteristics of the ambiguous crayfish (Cambarus striatus)

Camp MA, Skelton CE and Zehnder C

Abstract:
Crayfish are essential components of freshwater ecosystems and provide a number of services including detritus processing and nutrient cycling. These freshwater arthropods are also ecosystem engineers whose burrows provide refuge for a number of organisms. Despite increased awareness, many crayfish species are imperiled due to habitat degradation, limited ranges, and competition with invasive crayfish species. Life history information of primary burrowing crayfish is scarce due to the difficulty in locating and capturing individuals. A mark-recapture study of a population of Cambarus striatus located in Bartram Forest, Baldwin County, Georgia, USA was conducted using burrowing crayfish nets and visible elastomer alphanumeric tags. Seventy-eight of an estimated population of 110 individuals were captured between April 21, 2009 and December 11, 2009. Five hundred twenty-one burrow openings were identified and showed clumped distribution with highest densities located in low-lying areas that had a tendency to remain wet through most of the year. Cambarus striatus shows promise as a surrogate species that can be used to refine conservation techniques for imperiled cambarid species.

Keywords: Cambarus striatus; Depressicambarus; life history; mark-recapture; primary burrower

Article Language: English

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