Life history of the Big Sandy crayfish Cambarus callainus Thoma, Loughman & Fetzner, 2014 (Decapoda: Astacoidea: Cambaridae), an imperiled crayfish in the central Appalachian coalfields, USA

Author:

Vopal Christopher G12ORCID,Loughman Zachary J1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty University, 208 University Drive, West Liberty, WV 26074, USA

2. Environmental Solutions & Innovations, Inc., 4525 Este Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45232, USA

Abstract

Abstract The Big Sandy crayfish, Cambarus callainusThoma, Loughman & Fetzner, 2014, endemic to the Big Sandy River basin in the central Appalachians, USA, was listed by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2016 due to limited and declining range. In March 2018 we began a twelve-month study of the species at the Dry Fork watershed in West Virginia, USA and the Russell Fork watershed in Virginia, USA to document annual life history, reveal if seasonal molting occurs, determine the reproductive season and fecundity, and define its life history strategy. Egg-bearing females were only captured in August; however, a single female was collected with free-living craylings in April, suggesting possible overwintering maternal care or a potential early spring oviposition event. Mating likely occurred between May and June and potentially into the fall and early winter. Five to six size-class cohorts were observed, and we speculate that C. callainus could live up to five years or more. Analysis of morphometric data suggests that females undergo form change, displaying larger chelae and wider abdomens. The smallest Form I male collected had a total carapace length (TCL) of 31.5 mm and the smallest Form I female 32.8 mm. The largest male collected was Form I with a TCL of 55.9 mm. Similar to other species of Cambarus, C. callainus appears to exhibit K-selected life history traits: Fewer and larger eggs, relatively longer maternal care, larger but slow growing, and long lived. The life history information described should prove invaluable to those engaging in conservation efforts for this threatened species.

Funder

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fish

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Subject

Aquatic Science

Reference55 articles.

1. Macroevolution and extinction risk patterns in freshwater crayfish;Adamowicz;Freshwater Crayfish,2006

2. Life history study of Procambarus suttkusi in Southeastern Alabama;Baker;Journal of Crustacean Biology,2008

3. Towards an assessment of multiple ecosystem processes and services via functional traits;de Bello;Biodiversity and Conservation,2010

4. Life history of Cambarus robustus Girard in the Eramosa-Speed River System of Southwestern Ontario, Canada;Corey;Crustaceana,1990

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3