Cambarus veteranus

Last updated

Guyandotte River crayfish
Status TNC G1.svg
Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Family: Cambaridae
Genus: Cambarus
Species:
C. veteranus
Binomial name
Cambarus veteranus
Faxon, 1914

The Guyandotte River crayfish (Cambarus veteranus) is a species of crayfish found in a small stream system in Wyoming County, West Virginia, US. They are closely related to the Big Sandy crayfish (C. callainus), and until recently, the two were thought to belong to the same species. The Guyandotte River crayfish is currently listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN [1] and was listed under the Endangered Species Act with the Big Sandy crayfish on April 4, 2016. [3]

Contents

Description

Adult Guyandotte River crayfish are typically 75.7 to 101.6 millimetres (2.98 to 4.00 in) in length. Their shell covers range in colour from olive brown to light green with a blue cervical groove ranging in shade from light blue to aqua. Their walking legs are blue with chelae ranging in colour from light blue to a blue green. Some ways to differentiate the Guyandotte River crayfish from the Big Sandy crayfish include the narrower rostrum and claw set of the Big Sandy crayfish. Guyandotte River crayfish also have a lateral impression at the bottom of the stationary claw. [4]

Life history

Limited research has been done on the life history of the Guyandotte River crayfish. The following information on the life history of the Guyandotte River crayfish has largely been extrapolated from findings on the life history of the Big Sandy crayfish due to their extensive similarities. [4]

The Guyandotte River crayfish reaches full maturation in its third year following 2 to 3 years of growth. [4] The crayfish then reproduce for the first time during the "midsummer of the third or fourth year." The Guyandotte River crayfish are an egg-laying species. [4] After their first time reproducing, they continue to mate annually until their death. Eggs are typically laid in the late summer or fall, and then hatch in the spring. [4] Moulting then occurs in the late spring and early summer. The average lifespan of Guyandotte River crayfish "is thought to be 5 to 7 years, with the possibility of some individuals reaching 10 years of age." [4]

Ecology

Diet

The Guyandotte River crayfish can be described as opportunistic omnivores, meaning they will eat both plant materials and animal tissues, depending on accessibility. [4] Research indicates that these crayfish typically prefer animal tissue over the plant material. [3] According to C. veteranus researcher Dr. Zac Loughman, crayfish "help move energy up the food chain" by consuming "dead leaves, dead fish and other live and dead organisms." [5]

Behaviour

Mating behaviour

Guyandotte River crayfish movements captured using radio transmitters during the summer mating season suggest that females typically select a shelter to inhabit, and their mate later joins them in the chosen shelter. Females select their mating-season shelter "along banks or in slower moving water" and likely undergo a "seclusion period" where females will hide while bearing their eggs. [6]

Foraging behaviour

Additional evidence captured using radio transmitters supports the theory that Guyandotte River crayfish engage in foraging behaviors at night. [6]

Territorial behaviour

Male Guyandotte River crayfish have been recorded to venture as far as 480 metres (1,570 ft) over a period of seven days. On the other hand, female Guyandotte River crayfish have been observed to display more home ranging behavior, which means traveling short distances (up to 20 metres or 66 feet) and regularly returning to their original location. [6]

Habitat

Guyandotte River crayfish are found in one stream system in Wyoming County, West Virginia, [2] which is composed of 6 main streams. The crayfish require clean, large, permanent streams. They prefer fast-moving areas with small pools with gravel or cobble substrates. As a result, excessive sediment and pollutants will have a negative effect on their success. [7] [8]

Range

The Guyandotte River crayfish has a very limited range. There are only two known populations, and they are both found within the same stream system in Wyoming County. One population occupies the Pinnacle Creek stream, and the second population occupies the Clear Fork stream. [9] These populations are limited to their respective streams and isolated from one another.

Conservation

Population size

No historic or current population estimates or surveys exist to provide a full understand of how many individuals exist.

Geographical distribution

Major conservation issues for the Guyandotte River crayfish exist due to loss of habitat and habitat degradation. Current estimates suggest that the species occupies only 8% of its historic habitat. While it was once occupying nine streams in West Virginia, it has recently only been observed in two. [3]

Major threats

Major threats to the habitat include degradation and fragmentation. Guyandotte River crayfish live in the benthic habitat in fast moving streams. Commercial logging, coal mining, and general human population growth and development has increased sedimentation which has reduced habitat availability. As a result, Guyandotte River crayfish are being outcompeted by generalist crayfish species. In addition, infilling and sedimentation of streams are leading to habitat fragmentation, resulting in populations being cut off from each other. With such a small native range, any habitat destruction has detrimental effects for this species. [3]

Listing under the Endangered Species Act

The Guyandotte River crayfish was listed as Endangered wherever found under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) on April 7, 2016. [3]

5-year review

The 5-year review for the Guyandotte River crayfish was initiated on October 13, 2020, and has not yet been published. [8]

Species status assessment

A species status assessment has not been developed for the Guyandotte River crayfish at this point.

Recovery plan

The joint recovery plan for the Guyandotte River crayfish and the Big Sandy crayfish was initiated in 2018, with expectations of a completed draft before the end of the 2021 fiscal year. [10]

Major goals stated in the 2018 Recovery Outline include:

Current actions to conserve Guyandotte River crayfish populations include critical habitat designation. On March 15, 2022, the Fish and Wildlife Service released a document which designates several streams in the Guyandotte River as critical habitat for the Guyandotte River crayfish. These streams include occupied habitat (Pinnacle Creek and Clear Fork) as well as viable potential habitat (Indian Creek and Huff Creek). [10]

Related Research Articles

<i>Cambarus</i> Genus of crayfishes

Cambarus is a large and diverse genus of crayfish from the United States and Canada. The adults range in size from about 5 cm (2.0 in) up to approximately 15 cm (5.9 in).

<i>Cambarus aculabrum</i> Species of crayfish

Cambarus aculabrum is a rare species of cave-dwelling crayfish known by the common name Benton county cave crayfish. It is native to Arkansas in the United States, where it is known from only four locations. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

Cambarus bouchardi, the Big South Fork crayfish, is a species of crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It is found in North America.

Cambarus coosawattae, the Coosawattae crayfish, is a species of crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It is endemic to Georgia. The common name refers to the Coosawattee River, with the original specimens being collected in the Cartecay River which combines with another river to form the Coosawattee.

Cambarus cymatilis, the Conasauga blue burrower is a species of burrowing crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It is native to Tennessee and Georgia in the United States. The common name refers to the Conasauga River.

Cambarus elkensis, the Elk River crayfish, is a species of crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It is endemic to West Virginia in the United States.

<i>Cambarus fasciatus</i> Species of crayfish

Cambarus fasciatus, the Etowah crayfish, is a species of crayfish in the family Cambaridae. This species is endemic to Georgia, where it is state listed as S2.

Cambarus harti, the Piedmont blue burrower, is a species of burrowing crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It is endemic to Georgia in the United States. The common name refers to the Piedmont plateau region.

Cambarus obeyensis, the Obey crayfish, is a species of crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It is found in North America.

<i>Cambarus scotti</i> Species of crayfish

Cambarus scotti, the Chattooga River crayfish, is a species of crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It is endemic to Alabama and Georgia. The common name refers to the Chattooga River. The original specimens were collected from Clarks Creek in Chattooga County.

Cambarus speciosus, the beautiful crayfish, is a species of crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It is endemic to Georgia.

Cambarus subterraneus, the Delaware County cave crayfish, is a species of crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It has been found only in three caves in Delaware County, Oklahoma.

Cambarus tartarus, the Oklahoma cave crayfish, is a species of crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It is endemic to two caves in Delaware County, Oklahoma in the United States.

Cambarus williami, the Brawleys Fork crayfish, is a species of crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It is endemic to Tennessee.

<i>Cambarus zophonastes</i> Species of crayfish

Cambarus zophonastes, also known as the Hell Creek Cave crayfish, is named for its original location of discovery, Hell Creek Cave. It is also found in other similar habitats in Stone County and Marion County, Arkansas. These habitats include springs and caves such as Nesbitt Spring Cave in Stone County. C. zophanastes is critically endangered according to the IUCN. C. zophanastes is also protected by the ESA as an endangered species. Currently conservation efforts focus on monitoring populations, reducing disturbances, and monitoring water quality. More research has to be conducted to better understand and conserve the species.

<i>Faxonius shoupi</i> Species of crayfish

The Nashville crayfish, Faxonius shoupi, is a freshwater crustacean native to the Mill Creek Basin in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to August 2017, the species was called Orconectes shoupi. Faxonius shoupi is protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as an endangered species. However, the crayfish has recently been put up for delisting by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Sandy crayfish</span> Species of crayfish

The Big Sandy crayfish, Cambarus callainus, are freshwater crustaceans of the family Cambaridae. They are found in the streams and rivers of Appalachia in Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky, in what is known as the Big Sandy watershed. Populations are often mistaken with Cambarus veteranus, but morphological and genetic data suggest that these are separate taxa; however, both are protected under the Endangered Species Act. There is very little information available on the Big Sandy crayfish because it is a relatively new species.

<i>Cambarus robustus</i> Species of crayfish

Cambarus robustus, known generally as the robust crayfish or Big Water crayfish, is a species of crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It is found in North America.

<i>Cambarus carinirostris</i> Species of crayfish

Cambarus carinirostris, the rock crayfish, is a species of crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It is found in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

<i>Cambarus acuminatus</i> Species of crayfish

Cambarus acuminatus, the acuminate crayfish, is a species of crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It is found in eastern North America.

References

  1. 1 2 Cordeiro, J & Thoma, R.F. (2020) [amended version of 2010 assessment]. "Cambarus veteranus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T3687A176118152. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T3687A176118152.en . Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Cambarus veteranus". NatureServe Explorer An online encyclopedia of life. 7.1. NatureServe. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species Status for the Big Sandy Crayfish and Endangered Species Status for the Guyandotte River Crayfish, 81 Fed. Reg. No. 67 (April 7, 2016). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-04-07/pdf/2016-07744.pdf#page=1
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "ECOS: Species Profile". ecos.fws.gov. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  5. ↑ McCoy, John (26 January 2023) [Originally published 26 August 2019]. "Radio Tracking a Rare Crayfish". Cool Green Science. The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 Sadecky, Nicole Marie (2020). The Life History, Ecology, and Conservation of the Endangered, Narrow Endemic, Cambarus veteranus (The Guyandotte River Crayfish) Faxon 1914 (Family: Cambaridae) in Clear Fork of the Guyandotte River, WV, USA (Thesis). ProQuest   2477272616.
  7. ↑ Loughman, Zachary J.; Welsh, Stuart A.; Fetzner, James W. Jr.; Thoma, Roger F. (2015-11-01). "Conservation of Imperiled Crayfish, Cambarus veteranus (Decapoda: Reptantia: Cambaridae)". Journal of Crustacean Biology. 35 (6): 850–860. doi: 10.1163/1937240X-00002383 .
  8. 1 2 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 10 Northeastern Species, 85 Fed. Reg. No. 198 (October 18 2020) https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-10-13/pdf/2020-22547.pdf#page=1
  9. ↑ Loughman, Zachary (1 November 2015). "Conservation of Imperiled Crayfish, Cambarus Veteranus (Decapoda: Reptantia: Cambaridae)" . Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  10. 1 2 Recovery Outline for the Guyandotte River Crayfish and Big Sandy Crayfish. US Fish and Wildlife Service. (May 2018) https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/20180531_GRC_BSC_Signed%20recoveryoutline_final.pdf

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