Predation, habitat complexity, and distribution of the crayfishProcambarus alleni within a wetland habitat mosaic

Jordan, Frank; DeLeon, Claudia J.; McCreary, Angela C.

doi:10.1007/bf03161334

Cited by 38 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…For a related crayfish species, Procambarus alleni, population density also increases with plant biomass but decreases with water depth. Larger water depths are related with larger predatory fish (Heck and Crowder, 1991;Jordan et al, 1996), which may explain why both studied species prefer shallow waters. Further, Adão (1991) observed highest densities of P. clarkii at water depths below 40 cm, therefore supporting this idea.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Interactions between invasive crayfish and native river shrimp

Banha

Anastácio

2011

Knowl. Managt. Aquatic Ecosyst.

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Key-words:interaction, Athyaephyra desmarestii, Procambarus clarkii, predation, habitat use In the south of Portugal there are only two species of strictly freshwater decapods: the native freshwater shrimp Atyaephyra desmarestii and the exotic crayfish Procambarus clarkii. The aim of this study is to understand if the exotic crayfish acts as river shrimp predator and if both species share the same type of microhabitat. We performed laboratory experiments to study predation and conducted field work in the river Sorraia to verify the microhabitat distribution of both species. Laboratory experiments demonstrated significant predation on river shrimp for crayfish with a cephalothorax length (CT) over 24 mm. The average daily consumption increases with crayfish CT to a maximum of 0.8 shrimps at 44 mm. Field work confirmed that both species share the same microhabitats although with small differences e.g. on the water quality variables such as conductivity and the percentage of oxygen saturation. These microhabitats are shallow pools with abundant aquatic vegetation with no preference for the type of substrate. In the field, both crayfish density and its cephalothorax length are negatively correlated with shrimp densities. In conclusion, P. clarkii can predate A. desmarestii and the major impacts are expected at high densities of large sized crayfish. RÉSUMÉ Interactions entre écrevisse invasive et crevette native en rivière Mots-clés :interaction, Athyaephyra desmarestii, Procambarus clarkii, prédation, habitatDans le sud du Portugal, il n'y a que deux espèces de décapodes strictement d'eau douce : la crevette indigène d'eau douce Atyaephyra desmarestii et l'écrevisse exogène Procambarus clarkii. Le but de cette étude est de comprendre si l'écrevisse exogène agit comme prédateur de la crevette et si les deux espèces partagent le même type de microhabitat. Des expériences de laboratoire ont été réalisées pour étudier la prédation et des travaux sur le terrain dans la rivière Sorraia pour vérifier la distribution des microhabitats des deux espèces. Les expé-riences de laboratoire montrent une prédation significative sur la crevette palomète par l'écrevisse dont la longueur du céphalothorax (CT) est supérieure à 24 mm. La consommation moyenne journalière augmente avec la taille CT de l'écrevisse jusqu'à un maximum de 0,8 crevette à 44 mm. Le travail de terrain confirme que les deux espèces partagent les mêmes microhabitats bien qu'avec de petites différences concernant des variables de qualité des eaux comme la conductivité et le pourcentage de saturation en oxygène. Ces microhabitats sont des calmes peu profonds avec une abondante végétation aquatique sans préférence pour le type

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Interactions between invasive crayfish and native river shrimp

Banha

Anastácio

2011

Knowl. Managt. Aquatic Ecosyst.

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“…The behavioral ecology of decapods and theoretical considerations about the scale of this experiment suggest that the differences were at least partially caused by behavioral avoidance of the control cages. Several studies indicate that both shrimp and crayfish actively seek shelter from large fish predators (Ruiz et al, 1993;Garvey et al, 1994;Jordan et al, 1996;and others). Crayfish, in particular, have acute chemosensory facilities that help them assess predation risk (Bouwma & Hazlett, 2001), and exhibit habitat associations that lower the risk of fish predation in lakes (Lodge & Hill, 1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Exploring the role of large predators in marsh food webs: evidence for a behaviorally-mediated trophic cascade

2006

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The influence of large predators on lower trophic levels in oligotrophic, structurally complex, and frequently disturbed aquatic environments is generally thought to be limited. We looked for effects of large predators in two semi-permanent, spikerush-dominated marshes by excluding large fish (>12 mm body depth) and similarly sized herpetofauna from 1 m 2 cages (exclosures) for 2 weeks. The exclosures allowed for colonization by intermediate (in size and trophic position) consumers, such as small fish, shrimp, and crayfish. Exclosures were compared to control cages that allowed large fish to move freely in and out. At the end of the experiment, intermediate-consumer densities were higher in exclosures than in controls at both sites. Decapod crustaceans, especially the riverine grass shrimp (Palaemonetes paludosus), accounted for the majority of the response. Effects of large fish on shrimp were generally consistent across sites, but per capita effects were sensitive to estimates of predator density. Densities of intermediate consumers in our exclosures were similar to marsh densities, while the open controls had lower densities. This suggests that these animals avoided our experimental controls because they were risky relative to the surrounding environment, while the exclosures were neither avoided nor preferred. Although illuminating about the dynamics of open-cage experiments, this finding does not influence the main results of the study. Small primary consumers (mostly small snails, amphipods, and midges) living on floating periphyton mats and in flocculent detritus (''floc'') were less abundant in the exclosures, indicative of a trophic cascade. Periphyton mat characteristics (i.e., biomass, chlorophyll a, TP) were not clearly or consistently affected by the exclosure, but TP in the floc was lower in exclosures. The collective cascading effects of large predators were consistent at both sites despite differences in drought frequency, stem density, and productivity.

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“…Finally, sawgn'ass stands seem to support significantly fewer fishes than either wet prairies or sloughs Kushlan 1987, Jordan 1996). These and other patterns of habitat use likely reflect behavioral responses to differences in structural complexity and water depLh, which are strongly correlated with factors such as food availability, risk of predation, and physiological conditions (e.g., Wiens 1976, Loftus et al 1990, Jordan et al 1996b). Our study shows that differences in habitat structure and plant community composition are consistent across the Refuge landscape.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat structure and plant community composition in a northern Everglades wetland landscape

1997

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The structure of a priori-defined aquatic habitats was compared within the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, which comprises the northern remnant of the Everglades ecosystem. Total plant biomass, canopy height, water depth, and the relative abundance (percent cover) of plant species in adjacent sloughs (including alligator holes), wet prairies, and sawgrass stands were compared over a 30-month period. These habitats formed a mosaic of aquatic habitats of differing structure and plant community composition. Slough and alligator hole habitats were in deeper water with little or no canopy, and habitat structure was provided almost entirely by submersed bladderwort (Utricularia) and floating water lily (Nymphaea). Sawgrass stands were present in shallower water and had a well-developed canopy that was generated almost entirely by Cladium. Wet prairies were intermediate in water depth and canopy stature, with emergent sedges (i.e., Eleocharis, Rhynchospora) providing most habitat structure. Differences among adjacent habitats accounted for most of the observed variation in habitat structure and plant relative abundance, whereas differences among widely-separated areas in the Refuge (i.e, landscape-level differences) accounted for little of the observed variation. In contrast, water depth varied considerably among sampling areas, likely reflecting hydrologic gradients that occur across the Refuge landscape. Similarly, although differences among sampling months were minimal for most habitat features examined, most of the variation observed in water depth was accounted for by sampling rnonth, as would be expected in a seasonally dynamic wetland such as the Everglades. Discriminant function analyses using plant relative abundance data, habitat structure data, or both sets of data combined correctly classified most sites with respect to a priori-defined habitat type, despite similarities in plant community composition in sloughs and wet prairies. Overall, it appears that sloughs, wet prairies, and sawgrass stands are distinct with respect to habitat structure and plant corm'nunity composition and that differences among these habitats are persistent across the Refuge landscape.

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Predation, habitat complexity, and distribution of the crayfishProcambarus alleni within a wetland habitat mosaic

Cited by 38 publications

References 19 publications

Interactions between invasive crayfish and native river shrimp

Interactions between invasive crayfish and native river shrimp

Exploring the role of large predators in marsh food webs: evidence for a behaviorally-mediated trophic cascade

Habitat structure and plant community composition in a northern Everglades wetland landscape

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