A two-year study of the reproductive biology of the Sly Crayfish Procambarus versutus (Hagen, 1870) (Decapoda: Astacidea: Cambaridae)

Abstract

Abstract Nearly half of the over 400 North American crayfish species are imperiled and need some level of protection to ensure sustainable populations, but the detailed life histories of only about 12% of these crayfishes have been published. We provide needed baseline information on the reproductive biology of the Sly Crayfish, Procambarus versutus (Hagen, 1870), through sampling a small stream monthly (N = 23 samples) in the Choctawhatchee River watershed, southeastern Alabama, USA for two years. We collected data on 2,026 individuals (mean 88 sample–1) over the duration of the study and found minimum size at sexual maturity to be 18.3 mm for both males and females. Life cycles were consistent across both years with a major peak in reproductively active males in June and reproductively active females in July. Reproductively-active males and females were nevertheless collected nearly year-round, suggesting continuous low levels of reproduction throughout a given year, with three peaks in reproduction that vary in magnitude. Only three ovigerous females were collected over the study period, possibly because ovigerous females become reclusive and inactive, therefore difficult to collect. The maximum brood size sampled was 242 eggs female–1. There was no evidence for distinct age classes, likely due to year-round reproduction. Similar regional species with detailed information on reproductive biology available have reproduction patterns similar to those in our data. The information herein contributes to the largely lacking information on the life history of North American crayfishes and emphasizes the need to further evaluate the reproductive biology of species lacking sufficient data to aid conservation efforts.