Response of crayfish to hyporheic water availability and excess sedimentation

Hydrobiologia
By: , and 

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Abstract

Crayfish in many headwater streams regularly cope with seasonal drought. However, it is unclear how landscape changes affect the long-term persistence of crayfish populations. We designed two laboratory experiments to investigate the acute effects of common landscape stressors on crayfish: water withdrawal and sedimentation. The first experiment tested the interaction among water withdrawals (four 24-h water reductions of 0, 15, 30, or 45 cm) and two substrate treatments (pebble and cobble) on the burrowing depth of crayfish. The second experiment evaluated the effects of excess fine sediment (three treatments of 0, 45, and 90% sediment) and substrate type (cobble and pebble) on crayfish burrowing depth. Crayfish were able to burrow deeper into the simulated hyporheic zone in cobble substrate when compared to pebble. Crayfish subjected to greater water withdrawals in the pebble treatment were not able to reach the simulated hyporheic zone. Excess fine sediment reduced the depth that crayfish burrowed, regardless of substrate type. Results from this study suggest excess fine sediment may reduce crayfish persistence, particularly when seeking refuge during prolonged dry conditions.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Response of crayfish to hyporheic water availability and excess sedimentation
Series title Hydrobiologia
DOI 10.1007/s10750-014-2126-8
Volume 747
Issue 1
Year Published 2015
Language English
Publisher Springer International Publishing
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Atlanta
Description 11 p.
First page 147
Last page 157
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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