Topic
Rusty crayfish
About: Rusty crayfish is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 164 publications have been published within this topic receiving 8260 citations. The topic is also known as: Orconectes rusticus.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
TL;DR: Field observations correlated well with laboratory findings, suggesting that predators affect distribution and behavior of crayfish in natural communities, going beyond simple interactions of predator and prey.
Abstract: In laboratory aquaria, smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui) influenced activity, substrate selection, behavior, and food consumption of crayfish (Orconectes propinquus) of different sizes and sexes. In the presence of a predator, crayfish selected substrates affording most protection, significantly modified the frequency of various behavior patterns, and reduced their overall activity. Active behavior patterns such as walking—climbing and feeding were suppressed while defensive patterns, such as burrowing and chelae display increased. Grazing by crayfish on their detrital food supply was also suppressed by bass. Degree of response of crayfish appeared correlated with liability to predation, i.e., small, vulnerable crayfish were most affected, whereas large, less vulnerable crayfish were least affected. Because crayfish ♂ ♂ have larger chelae than ♀ ♀, they apparently were better able to defend themselves against predators; consequently, less vulnerable ♂ ♂ did not modify their behavior as dramatically as ♀ ♀. In field collections crayfish exposed on the substrate were larger than those buried; fewer ♀ ♀ than ♂ ♂ were exposed. Thus, field observations correlated well with laboratory findings, suggesting that predators affect distribution and behavior of crayfish in natural communities. By affecting several trophic levels within aquatic systems, influence of predators goes beyond simple interactions of predator and prey.
572 citations
TL;DR: To completely understand their role, crayfish should be viewed from two perspectives: that of an individual attempting to complete its life cycle, and the collective functioning of a population in the ecosystem, which can produce a serious ecological impact.
Abstract: Many ecologists and aquaculturists view crayfish as either detritivores or herbivores. The nutritional importance of detritus and plant material, seemingly confirmed by examination of stomach contents is exaggerated. Examination of stomach contents emphasizes indigestible residues, for example, plant fragments and detritus, while neglecting the ingestion of easily digestible soft‐bodied metazoans. The few comparative studies that have measured the assimilation and metabolic use of ingested items reveal animal protein to be the chief substance promoting rapid growth. Crayfish are not indiscriminate omnivores; in fact, they demonstrate a predilection for animal protein. Crayfish rank among the chief carnivores found in lakes and streams. To completely understand their role, crayfish should be viewed from two perspectives: that of an individual attempting to complete its life cycle, and the collective functioning of a population in the ecosystem, which can produce a serious ecological impact. While ...
555 citations
TL;DR: Using long-term field data and laboratory experiments, mechanisms of differential impact of O. rusticus (relative to congeners) on benthic community structure are explored and feeding preference did not differ among morphologically different macrophytes or between different-sized snails; however, weight-specific consumption and destruction rates did.
Abstract: Since its introduction 30 yr ago, Orconectes rusticus has displaced O. propinquus and O. virilis and reduced macrophytes in several northern Wisconsin lakes. Since 1973, rate of displacement by O. ...
229 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the importance of vision for efficient agonistic communication was investigated in the rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus, a species active both day and night, using infra-red video recording.
Abstract: 1. The importance of vision for efficient agonistic communication was investigated in the rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus, a species active both day and night. Agonistic bout dynamics were analyzed from isosexual pairs of males and females interacting under moderate (350 lux) and dim (11 lux) light levels, and in complete darkness (using infra-red video recording). Under dim light we determined the effect of visual light and dark adaptation on communication. 2. As light diminished, bouts became less frequent, but longer, and the crayfish invested more time and performed more acts when resolving bouts. Thus, communication efficiency was clearly lower in the dark than under moderate light, for both sexes. Males performed more acts than females overall, and were generally more aggressive than females. 3. The frequency of visually-mediated behaviours (e.g. Lunge, Follow) decreased in the absence oflight, while tactile behaviours (e.g. Antenna Tap, Chela Strike, Push) were performed more frequently. Males especially performed more highly aggressive tactile behaviours in the dark. It was shown that some behaviours previously considered to be visually mediated (e.g. Meral Spread) are also tactually or proprioceptively mediated, and some behaviours assumed to be tactually mediated (e.g. antennal movements) are probably also visually mediated. 4. Under dim light, crayfish with light-adapted eyes resolve bouts more efficiently in terms of time and energy investment than do dark-adapted animals. This is consistent with the effects of pigment migrations during dark adaptation in the crayfish superposition compound eye, which enhance visual sensitivity, but decrease acuity. We suggest that dark adaptation diminishes a crayfishes ability to deal with the subtleties of visual communication, but may well enhance its ability to detect predators.
221 citations
TL;DR: This study demonstrates a field and laboratory protocol for eDNA monitoring of crayfish invasions, with results of statistical models that provide guidance of sampling effort and detection probabilities for researchers in other regions and systems.
Abstract: Early detection is invaluable for the cost-effective control and eradication of invasive species, yet many traditional sampling techniques are ineffective at the low population abundances found at the onset of the invasion process. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a promising and sensitive tool for early detection of some invasive species, but its efficacy has not yet been evaluated for many taxonomic groups and habitat types.We evaluated the ability of eDNA to detect the invasive rusty crayfish Orconectes rusticus and to reflect patterns of its relative abundance, in upper Midwest, USA, inland lakes. We paired conventional baited trapping as a measure of crayfish relative abundance with water samples for eDNA, which were analysed in the laboratory with a qPCR assay. We modelled detection probability for O. rusticus eDNA using relative abundance and site characteristics as covariates and also tested the relationship between eDNA copy number and O. rusticus relative abundance.We detected O. rusticus eDNA in all lakes where this species was collected by trapping, down to low relative abundances, as well as in two lakes where trap catch was zero. Detection probability of O. rusticus eDNA was well predicted by relative abundance of this species and lake water clarity. However, there was poor correspondence between eDNA copy number and O. rusticus relative abundance estimated by trap catches. Synthesis and applications. Our study demonstrates a field and laboratory protocol for eDNA monitoring of crayfish invasions, with results of statistical models that provide guidance of sampling effort and detection probabilities for researchers in other regions and systems. We propose eDNA be included as a tool in surveillance for invasive or imperilled crayfishes and other benthic arthropods.
193 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2016 | 8 |