Trophic ecology of the North American crayfish genus Barbicambarus Hobbs, 1969 (Decapoda: Astacoidea: Cambaridae): evidence for a unique relationship between body size and trophic position

Stites, Andrew J.; Taylor, Christopher A.; Kessler, Ethan J.

doi:10.1093/jcbiol/rux019

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 48 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These species spanned an ecological spectrum ranging from large, fast-growing habitat-type specialists with possible densitydependent recruitment to small-bodied habitat-type generalists with density-independent recruitment. Our findings challenge the widely held belief that ecological characteristics are necessarily similar among closely related lotic crayfish species (in agreement with Larson et al 2016, Stites et al 2017. The focus of our study was Faxonius spp., but future research could explore the degree to which species and genera spanning an even broader spectra of life-history strategies respond dissimilarly to flow and temperature.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

Co-occurring lotic crayfishes exhibit variable long-term responses to extreme-flow events and temperature

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Crayfish serve critical roles in aquatic ecosystems as engineers, omnivores, and prey. It is unclear how increasingly frequent extreme-flow events and warming air temperatures will affect crayfish populations, partly because there are few long-term crayfish monitoring datasets. Using a unique 10-y dataset, we asked 1) whether recruitment of crayfishes in summer responded to extreme-flow events and air temperature during spring brooding and summer growing periods and 2) whether responses were similar among 3 co-occurring crayfish species. Golden (Faxonius luteus [Creaser, 1933]), Ozark (Faxonius ozarkae [Williams, 1952]), and Spothand (Faxonius punctimanus [Creaser, 1933]) crayfishes were sampled in quadrats at 2 sites each in the Big Piney (1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000) and Jacks Fork (1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001) rivers (Missouri, USA; n 5 3355 1-m 2 quadrats). We used zero-inflated generalized linear models to relate variability in quadrat-level age-0 counts to mean daily maximum air temperatures and flow metrics (variability, magnitude, and frequency of extreme high-and low-flow events). Species ranged from a small-bodied, abundant habitat generalist (Golden Crayfish) to large-bodied, uncommon habitat specialists (Ozark and Spothand crayfishes). Golden Crayfish occurred in higher-velocity habitats (riffles, runs) and had variable recruitment that increased during years with few spring and summer high-flow events and summers with lower flows and warmer temperatures. In contrast, annual recruitment variability of Ozark and Spothand crayfishes was low and explained by positive effects of cooler summers and by different flow metrics. Spothand Crayfish recruitment decreased in years with frequent spring and summer high-flow events, whereas lower summer minimum flow was the only flow metric that explained slight increases in Ozark Crayfish recruitment. Relationships with the preceding year's recruitment were quadratic for Ozark and Spothand crayfishes, suggesting potential density dependence at higher recruitment levels. Speciesspecific responses suggest that closely related crayfishes could respond idiosyncratically to changes in temperature and flow. Temperature-and flow-related disturbances may be key mechanisms mediating competition and, thus, may help maintain crayfish diversity. However, warming air temperatures and increasingly frequent extreme-flow events could disadvantage some species, thereby altering future crayfish assemblages.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

Co-occurring lotic crayfishes exhibit variable long-term responses to extreme-flow events and temperature

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…41 showed that crayfish generally have an animal-based diet, which supplies protein for growth, while 5 found that plant material is an important energy source for maintenance. Thus, adult crayfish may be more carnivorous, increasing trophic level with increasing size 42 , or more detritivorous than juveniles 15,43 . In our study, both adults and juveniles ate macroinvertebrates and periphyton in summer, while periphyton was the main food source for the both life stages in autumn.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet and trophic niche of the invasive signal crayfish in the first invaded Italian stream ecosystem

Ercoli

Ghia

Gruppuso

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The occurrence of the signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus in the Valla Stream was the first established population of this invasive species recorded in an Italian stream ecosystem. We evaluated the seasonality of diet and trophic niche of invasive signal crayfish in order to estimate the ecological role and effects on native communities of the stream ecosystem. We studied the differences in food source use between sexes, life stages and seasons using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses. To supplement stable isotope analyses, we evaluated food source usage using traditional stomach content analysis. We tested the hypothesis that juveniles have a different diet, showing different trophic niches, compared to adults. Results indicated that signal crayfish adult and juvenile diets mainly rely on macroinvertebrates and periphyton in summer, shifting to mostly periphyton in autumn. Although the two age classes occupied an equivalent trophic niche, juveniles showed slightly different carbon isotope values, suggesting a somewhat ontogenetic shift consistent among seasons. No significant differences were found in adult and juvenile diets between summer and autumn seasons. Our findings suggest that signal crayfish juveniles and adults exhibited seasonal feeding habits, probably due to ecological behaviour rather than food resource availability, and that both are likely to impose similar effects on macroinvertebrate communities in this and similar stream ecosystems.

show abstract

“…are abundant in Anthony Creek and likely represent an important protein source needed for vitellogenesis in C. chasmodactylus . Several trophic studies have occurred for Cambarus species (Dewees, 1972; Stites et al, 2017), including Helms and Creed (2005), which investigated C. chasmodactylus feeding ecology in North Carolina, USA (Helms & Creed, 2005). The increase in prey specificity associated with key life‐history events has only been recorded for Anthony Creek's C. chasmodactylus populations and may be an important facet of Cambaridae life history (Fagundo & Loughman, 2015); it may also be an isolated incident allied to this population.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life history and neonate behaviour of the new river crayfish Cambarus chasmodactylus James 1966 (Decapoda: Astacoidea: Cambaridae) from the central portion of the species range

Graham

Loughman

2022

Acta Zoologica

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We studied the life history of the New River Crayfish, Cambarus chasmodactylus in Anthony, Creek, West Virginia during an entire activity season—from May 2011 through October 2011. We observed two mass moulting events; one occurred in May, whereas the other occurred in September. Most males within this population moulted from Form I (i.e. reproductive form) to Form II (i.e. non‐reproductive form) in May and then later returned to Form I after a September moulting event. We collected females with active glair glands from May to June, with oviposition occurring from July to August. Fecundity was high and weakly correlated with body size. Egg counts of attached eggs/young in ovigerous females ranged from 41 to 281, with an average of 168. Additionally, from June to October, we dissected a subset of females to determine the monthly gonadal development in females with and without active glair glands. Lastly, in the laboratory, we observed 4th instar neonate crayfishes repeatedly “drifting” between females. We speculate on the relevance of this drifting behaviour and propose future studies to investigate this phenomenon. Our study provides the first comprehensive understanding of the life history of C. chasmodactylus.

show abstract

Trophic ecology of the North American crayfish genus Barbicambarus Hobbs, 1969 (Decapoda: Astacoidea: Cambaridae): evidence for a unique relationship between body size and trophic position

Cited by 9 publications

References 48 publications

Co-occurring lotic crayfishes exhibit variable long-term responses to extreme-flow events and temperature

Co-occurring lotic crayfishes exhibit variable long-term responses to extreme-flow events and temperature

Diet and trophic niche of the invasive signal crayfish in the first invaded Italian stream ecosystem

Life history and neonate behaviour of the new river crayfish Cambarus chasmodactylus James 1966 (Decapoda: Astacoidea: Cambaridae) from the central portion of the species range

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About