A multi-method approach for assessing the distribution of a rare, burrowing North American crayfish species

Primary burrowing crayfishes face high extinction risk, but are challenging to study, manage, and conserve due to their difficult-to-sample habitat (i.e., terrestrial burrows) and low population densities. We apply here a variety of methods to characterize the distribution, habitat associations, and conservation status of the Boston Mountains Crayfish Cambarus causeyi (Reimer, 1966), an endemic burrowing crayfish found only in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, United States. We used species distribution modeling (SDM) on historic occurrence records to characterize the distribution and macro-scale habitat associations of this species. We then ground-truthed SDM predictions with conventional sampling, modeled fine-scale habitat associations with generalized linear models (GLM), and lastly developed and tested an environmental DNA (eDNA) assay for this species in comparison to conventional sampling. This represents, to our knowledge, the first successful eDNA assay for a terrestrial burrowing crayfish. Our MaxEnt-derived SDM found a strong effect of average annual precipitation on the historic distribution of C. causeyi, which occurred most frequently at locations with moderately high average annual precipitation (140-150 cm/yr) within our study region. Cambarus causeyi was difficult to detect by conventional sampling in 2019 and 2020, found at only 9 of 51 sites (17.6%) sampled by searching for and manually excavating crayfish burrows. Surprisingly, habitat suitability predicted from our MaxEnt models was not associated with contemporary C. causeyi occurrences per GLMs. Instead, C. causeyi presence was negatively associated with both sandy soils and the presence of other burrowing crayfish species. Poor SDM performance in this instance was likely caused by the omission of high resolution fine-scale habitat data (e.g., soils) and biotic interactions from MaxEnt models. Finally, our eDNA assay detected C. causeyi from six of 25 sites (24.0%) sampled in 2020, out-performing conventional surveys by burrow excavation for this species. Given the difficulty of studying primary burrowing crayfishes and their high conservation need, we propose that eDNA may become an increasingly important monitoring tool for C. causeyi and similar species.

Hydrology-mediated ecological function of a large wetland threatened by an invasive predator

Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to ecosystems, disrupting ecosystem function and leading to the collapse and extinction of native species. While populations of native fishes in the Everglades are tied to the system's natural hydrological dynamics, Asian Swamp Eels (Monopterus albus/javanensis) are drought-resistant fish first reported from Florida in 1997 and the Everglades in 2007. Using a 26-year dataset that included a 13-year baseline period prior to swamp eel arrival in Taylor Slough, we assessed population changes of common small fishes and decapods that are important prey for larger vertebrate predators. After invasion, populations of two crayfishes collapsed by >95 %, two fishes declined by >80 %, two fishes had intermediate declines of 44-66 %, and three species remained unchanged. Species most strongly reduced were those dependent on predator-free habitats at the onset of the wet season, indicating drought-resistant swamp eels have introduced novel predator effects and disrupted the hydrology-mediated production of aquatic animals that are prey for many larger predators. Ongoing Everglades restoration is designed to restore hydrological conditions that support production of crayfishes and fishes, and nesting wading birds reliant on them. Water management may have facilitated the invasion of swamp eels. Our results suggest that the continued spread of swamp eels may result in adverse consequences for Everglades trophic dynamics and potentially diminish benefits expected from the $20B+ restoration.

The significance of droughts for hyporheic dwellers: evidence from freshwater crayfish

Freshwater biodiversity is globally threatened by various factors while severe weather events like long-term droughts may be substantially devastating. In order to remain in contact with the water or stay in a sufficiently humid environment at drying localities, the ability to withstand desiccation by dwelling in the hyporheic zone, particularly through vertical burrowing is crucial. We assessed the ability of three European native and five non-native crayfish as models to survive and construct vertical burrows in a humid sandy-clayey substrate under a simulated one-week drought. Three native species (Astacus astacus, A. leptodactylus, and Austropotamobius torrentium) suffered extensive mortalities. Survival of non-native species was substantially higher while all specimens of Cherax destructor and Procambarus clarkii survived. The native species and Pacifastacus leniusculus exhibited no ability to construct vertical burrows. Procambarus fallax f. virginalis and P. clarkii constructed bigger and deeper burrows than C. destructor and Orconectes limosus. In the context of predicted weather fluctuations, the ability to withstand desiccation through constructing vertical burrows into the hyporheic zone under drought conditions might play a significant role in the success of particular crayfish species, as well as a wide range of further hyporheic-dwelling aquatic organisms in general.

Hydrological disturbance diminishes predator control in wetlands

Effects of predators on prey populations can be especially strong in aquatic ecosystems, but disturbances may mediate the strength of predator limitation and even allow outbreaks of some prey populations. In a two-year study we investigated the numerical responses of crayfish (Procambarus fallax) and small fishes (Poeciliidae and Fundulidae) to a brief hydrological disturbance in replicated freshwater wetlands with an experimental drying and large predatory fish reduction. The experiment and an in situ predation assay tested the component of the consumer stress model positing that disturbances release prey from predator limitation. In the disturbed wetlands, abundances of large predatory fish were seasonally reduced, similar to dynamics in the Everglades (southern Florida). Densities of small fish were unaffected by the disturbance, but crayfish densities, which were similar across all wetlands before drying, increased almost threefold in the year after the disturbance. Upon re-flooding, juvenile crayfish survival was inversely related to the abundance of large fish across wetlands, but we found no evidence for enhanced algal food quality. At a larger landscape scale (500 km2 of the Everglades), crayfish densities over eight years were positively correlated with the severity of local dry disturbances (up to 99 days dry) during the preceding dry season. In contrast, densities of small-bodied fishes in the same wetlands were seasonally depressed by dry disturbances. The results from our experimental wetland drought and the observations of crayfish densities in the Everglades represent a large-scale example of prey population release following a hydrological disturbance in a freshwater ecosystem. The conditions producing crayfish pulses in the Everglades appear consistent with the mechanics of the consumer stress model, and we suggest crayfish pulses may influence the number of nesting wading birds in the Everglades.

Do Marmorkrebs, Procambarus fallax f. virginalis, threaten freshwater Japanese ecosystems?

BACKGROUND

One marbled crayfish, Marmorkrebs, Procambarus fallax f. virginalis (Hagen, 1870), was discovered in a natural ecosystem in Japan in 2006. Because Marmorkrebs are parthenogenetic, they could establish a population from only a single individual, and thus pose a risk for becoming established in Japan, as they have in other countries. There are two major reasons to be concerned about the possibility of Marmorkrebs establishing viable populations in Japan. First, Japan's only endemic crayfish, Cambaroides japonicus (De Haan, 1841), lives throughout Hokkaido and is endangered. Introduced Marmorkrebs are potential competitors that could further threaten C. japonicus. Second, Marmorkrebs live in rice paddies in Madagascar and consume rice. Marmorkrebs populations could reduce rice yields in Japan.

RESULTS

We created five models in MaxEnt of the potential distribution of Marmorkrebs in Japan. All models showed eastern Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu contain suitable habitats for Marmorkrebs. Hokkaido, the main habitat for C. japonicus, contained much less suitable habitat in most models, but is where the only Marmorkrebs in Japan to date was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Marmorkrebs appear to be capable of establishing populations in Japan if introduced. They appear to pose minimal threat to C. japonicus, but may negatively affect rice production.

Suitability of the clonal marbled crayfish for biogerontological research: a review and perspective, with remarks on some further crustaceans

This article examines the suitability of the parthenogenetic marbled crayfish for research on ageing and longevity. The marbled crayfish is an emerging laboratory model for development, epigenetics and toxicology that produces up to 400 genetically identical siblings per batch. It is easily cultured, has an adult size of 4-9 cm, a generation time of 6-7 months and a life span of 2-3 years. Experimental data and biological peculiarities like isogenicity, direct development, indeterminate growth, high regeneration capacity and negligible senescence suggest that the marbled crayfish is particularly suitable to investigate the dependency of ageing and longevity from non-genetic factors such as stochastic developmental variation, allocation of metabolic resources, damage and repair, caloric restriction and social stress. It is also well applicable to examine alterations of the epigenetic code with increasing age and to identify mechanisms that keep stem cells active until old age. As a representative of the sparsely investigated crustaceans and of animals with indeterminate growth and extended brood care the marbled crayfish may even contribute to evolutionary theories of ageing and longevity. Some relatives are recommended as substitutes for investigation of topics, for which the marbled crayfish is less suitable like genetics of ageing and achievement of life spans of decades under conditions of low food and low temperature. Research on ageing in the marbled crayfish and its relatives is of practical relevance for crustacean fisheries and aquaculture and may offer starting points for the development of novel anti-ageing interventions in humans.