Surface activity of burrowing crayfishes in northern Ohio
Location
Science Center: Bent Corridor
Document Type
Poster
Start Date
4-26-2024 12:00 PM
End Date
4-26-2024 2:00 PM
Abstract
The crayfish Creaserinus fodiens is a primary burrower found in wooded wetlands and old fields widely distributed north-south from Canada down to the Gulf coast and east-west from the Atlantic coast to the midwest. Primary burrowing crayfish are cryptic animals, spending much of their time in underground burrows, often distant from surface waters (rivers, streams, ponds) but located in seasonally mesic habitats. As detritivores, these animals are integral to nutrient turnover, increasing nutrient availability and aerating the soil. Burrows may provide a source of reliable moisture, safety, and food or food storage. Like surface-water crayfishes, burrowing crayfishes use gills, requiring available water; thus, when the surface conditions are dry, such as in summer, these animals spend their time belowground, presumably below the water table. However, in their preferred habitats the surface is seasonally flooded and it is during these wet periods that the crayfish emerge. To study the behavior of the burrowing crayfish Creaserinus fodiens at the surface in 2022-23, we placed trail cameras up to once per week to record surface activity around burrows for a 24-hour span, recording a still image every 2-30 seconds. We surveyed each time-lapse video to observe crayfish emergence and categorize any activity (e.g., foraging, perching, excavating) as well as the time at which it occurred. We find that crayfish are most active and for longer periods after dark, with activity levels peaking after 8pm. Additionally, crayfish activity and duration of activity peaks in April-May, with Sep-Oct representing a second period of high activity. Perching, peeking, and retreating are most commonly observed while hunting and capping are relatively uncommon.
Keywords:
Ecology, Behavioral study, Invertebrates, Local fieldwork
Recommended Citation
Carrera, Ember; Gonzalez, Isabel; Liu, Julie; Milles, Hunter; Neighmond, Audrey; Robinson, Cortny; Shen, Aster; Waldo, Emily; and Roles, Angela, "Surface activity of burrowing crayfishes in northern Ohio" (2024). Research Symposium. 11.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/researchsymp/2024/posters/11
Major
Biology
Award
STRONG Program
Project Mentor(s)
Angela (Angie) Roles, Biology
2024
Surface activity of burrowing crayfishes in northern Ohio
Science Center: Bent Corridor
The crayfish Creaserinus fodiens is a primary burrower found in wooded wetlands and old fields widely distributed north-south from Canada down to the Gulf coast and east-west from the Atlantic coast to the midwest. Primary burrowing crayfish are cryptic animals, spending much of their time in underground burrows, often distant from surface waters (rivers, streams, ponds) but located in seasonally mesic habitats. As detritivores, these animals are integral to nutrient turnover, increasing nutrient availability and aerating the soil. Burrows may provide a source of reliable moisture, safety, and food or food storage. Like surface-water crayfishes, burrowing crayfishes use gills, requiring available water; thus, when the surface conditions are dry, such as in summer, these animals spend their time belowground, presumably below the water table. However, in their preferred habitats the surface is seasonally flooded and it is during these wet periods that the crayfish emerge. To study the behavior of the burrowing crayfish Creaserinus fodiens at the surface in 2022-23, we placed trail cameras up to once per week to record surface activity around burrows for a 24-hour span, recording a still image every 2-30 seconds. We surveyed each time-lapse video to observe crayfish emergence and categorize any activity (e.g., foraging, perching, excavating) as well as the time at which it occurred. We find that crayfish are most active and for longer periods after dark, with activity levels peaking after 8pm. Additionally, crayfish activity and duration of activity peaks in April-May, with Sep-Oct representing a second period of high activity. Perching, peeking, and retreating are most commonly observed while hunting and capping are relatively uncommon.
