Faxonius virilis were sampled from native population and introduced populations within a narrow range of the South Saskatchewan River in southern Alberta.  We hypothesize that introduced Great Lake F. virilis has hybridized with native prairie F. virilis. Tissue samples were taken for genetics, multiple specimens were collected to compare geometric morphometrics between the two known species and the hybrids. COI and GAPDH along with microsatellite markers show distinction within the grouping. The importance of this study is to identify populations of hybrids for future management plans.

Primary burrowing crayfish life history and ecology is largely due to their cryptic habitat preferences. Cambarus monongalensis, arguably the most charismatic of all crayfishes, lacks basic life history and habitat data because of the aforementioned obstacles. This study seeks to determine the life history and ecological preferences of populations of C. monongalensis in the northern panhandle of West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania with notes on its natural history. Life history data will include form change and reproductive patterns including juvenile size of departure from the maternal burrow. Habitat data were collected using external burrow morphology and burrow locations within a standardized area collected seasonally to determine the preferences and cyclical patterns of crayfishes. With these data, the conservation of this species, and others that follow a similar life history strategy, is possible